ABSTRACT
Lead is a bio-accumulative heavy metal usually found in nature combined with other elements to form lead compounds. Over 400 children were reported to have died as a result of lead poisoning outbreak in Zamfara State, Nigeria and about 2000 children are currently on treatment. The prevalence of lead residues in tissues of animals slaughtered at Gusau abattoir, Zamfara State was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. A total of 384 tissue samples were collected and their lead content determined. About 95% of the 384 animals were purchased from markets within Zamfara State and out of all the samples investigated 324(84.4%) had lead residues. The lead residues in 314(81.80%) of the animals were above the permissible limit of 0.1mg/kg recommended by World Health Organisation and European Commission. Lead residues were not detected in about 60(16.60%) of the animals sampled. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) observed in tissue accumulation of lead in animals based on difference in age, sex, species or breed of the animal. Gross contamination of the environment from where these animals were sourced could therefore be inferred.