[Lead content of muscles and liver of cattle]

182 samples of bovine musculature and 183 samples of bovine liver obtained from the sanitary slaughters in the North Moravian region, mostly at Frýdek-Místek, over the February and March 1978, were examined for the lead content by the method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The lead content in the examined samples of musculature ranged from 0 to 0.80 mg per kg (average value 0.28 mg per kg) and in the examined samples of liver from 0 to 1.23 mg per kg (average value 0.39 mg per kg); in 2.2 per cent of liver samples the level of lead was higher than 1.0 mg per kg. The highest admissible level of lead in bovine musculature and liver is being discussed, and the tolerated level of weekly intake by adult persons.