[The hazard of lead-accumulation in domestic animals fed on hay from fields nearby highways in Norway (author's transl.)].

In 1971 hay was harvested from an area nearby a highway (E18) at Sande in Vestfold (Norway). On an average 9,400 cars passed this place each day during the summer season. The lead pollution of the hay was moderate. Hay taken at a distance of 2 m from the roadside contained 6.6 mu-g Pb/g dry weight. There was found no increase in the lead concentration in blood, liver, kidney, muscle, urine, or bone tissue in the experimental sheep compared with the control group. In faeces, however, a higher lead concentration was found in the experimental group compared with the control group, on an average 6.3 and 1.6 mu-g Pb/g, respectively. No increase in the lead content could be demonstrated in bone tissue from cattle which since birth had been fed on grass and hay originating from areas adjacent to the highway.