The pollution of soils with Pb, Cd, and Hg, and the transfer of these elements into the above-ground organs of 4 dominant herb species was studied in spruce ecosystems situated along the vertical transects Muráň (Skeli-Humic Podzols) and Hliníky (Dystric Cambisols) in the protected zone of Slovenský raj National Park (eastern Slovakia). The maximum amounts of Pb (62-86 mg·kg^-1 d.m.) and Cd (0.48-1.03 mg·kg^-1 d.m) found in Ooh horizons of Podzols were substantially lower than the calculated limit values. The concentrations of Hg (1.59-2.09 mg·kg^-1 d.m) in both soils were very similar, and in comparison with the limit values A1 substantially higher. The concentrations of Pb (1.54-8.05 mg·kg^-1 d.m) and Cd (0.15-1.92 mg·kg^-1 d.m), found in Vaccininium myrtillus, Dryopteris dilatata, Luzula luzuloides, and Rubus idaeus species were within the toxicity range. Substantially higher as 1 were only transfer coefficients of Cd in the case of D. dilatata, R. idaeus, and L. luzuloides species.