Critical concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic are evaluated Threshold metal concentrations are derived from laboratory tests thereby accounting for effects of soil properties and differences in toxiticy between laboratory spiked soils and field contamina- ted soils. Transfer of metals into the foodchain is predicted based on existing field data. Maximum permitted dietary metal intake and soil-plant transfer data are the basis of deriving critical concentrations in soil to minimise elevated dietary intake of metals. Final critical values in soil are based on the most stringent pathways.