The aim of the study was the assessment of motorization influence along national road No. 8, in the section of Bialystok-Augustow, on the heavy metals accumulation in soils and plants. The research was conducted on soils under different used (forest, meadows, arable areas, wasteland) and herbaceous plants sampled along the road. Soil and plant samples were taken in 9 sites, in four distances from the road edge: 5, 25, 50, and 100 m. As far as heavy metal contents, it was found that the analyzed soils can be classified as soils of higher content in comparison with the geochemical background of light soils. The exception was copper content, which ranged within the level of the geochemical background. Zinc, copper, lead, chromium and cadmium content decreased in the distance of over 25 m from the road edge. The distance from the road did not have an effect on the average nickel content in analyzed soils. Metals content in herbaceous plants does not disqualify them as foodstuff for breeding and wild animals. Taking into account the road influence on metals accumulation, it can be assumed that more Cu, Zn, Pb were in plants which grew close to the road and this content lowered with the distance from road. This dependence was not registered in the case of Cr and Cd content in plants. The average content of these metals was maintained in the same level in sites which were in the distance of 5 and 25 m from the road edge. The nickel content in plants was similar.
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