The increasing level of pollution in the environment with which some animals that forms part of the human diet are constantly in contact has been a global concern. In Nigeria as well as several other countries, meat and milk from cattle, goats and sheep are the most common sources of animal protein, the need to assess the level of contaminants in forage grazed by these animals is absolutely necessary, especially where grazing by privately owned domestic livestock is the most extensive economic use of the public lands. A field study was conducted on forage grasses in Dareta village, Nigeria, to assess the intake of heavy metals by grazing animals, following the identification of mass acute lead poisoning situation in the area. Levels of Lead, Nickel and Zinc were determined in five different natural grazing pastures around the village. The samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) model AA 6800 after wet digestion. The concentration of lead ranged between 5.09 - 1312.73mg/kg, nickel between 1.12 – 8.62mg/kg and zinc between 5.00 – 289.68mg/kg. The implications of these findings to public health are fully discussed.
