Empirical Analysis of Hydrogen Cyanide in Streams used for Commercial Fermentation of Cassava
Abstract: Ilaro, like many other regions in the western parts in Nigeria is famous for cassava processing. One of the major ways cassava is consumed in ilaro is through fermentation of the cassava into Fufu a staple food enjoyed by the indigenes of Ilaro. Ilaro is famous for its fufu production and it can be gotten from any area in the community. One of the most vital steps in fufu making is fermentation. The fermentation helps to detoxify the cassava of its cyanide content as well as break down the cassava to enable further processing. Cassava fermentation for fufu takes 4 to 7 days before further steps is taken. The water used for fermentation is gotten from the streams and discarded back in the streams continuously. The process of commercialized fermentation demandsa constant source of water in large quantities which is the main reason the streams in Ilaro are used for fermentation. Cyanide contamination of selected streams in Ilaro was studied as part of a bigger project aimed at setting background standard for contaminations of water, land and air in the Yewa South environment. A total of 15 samples were collected from the streams used for the cassava fermentation with five streams in the scope where 3 samples were collected from each streams. (points before activity, points after activity and points of activity) to better as certain the concentration of cyanide in the streams. From our research we were able to ascertain that cyanide concentration is below detectable limits in the points before activity and trace amounts below permissible guidelines by regulatory bodies such as WHO and US EPA were found in the points of activity and after activity. This study found that the streams are safe for domesticated use as well as the commercial fermentation of cassava but they should be monitored closely to avoid future contaminations as cyanide is a great risk to human health and in large quantities very fatal.
Keywords: Health Concern: Cyanide: Fermentation: Cassava: Streams: Nigeria.
