Field soil pore water monitoring was applied in a highly heavy-metal contaminated area inSWSardinia, Italy, as a
direct, realistic measure of heavy metalmobility. The main chemistry of pore waters well reflects the local characteristics
of soils, ranging from Ca–SO4 to (Ca)Mg–HCO3 to Ca(Na)–SO4(Cl), with a wide range of conductivity.
The mobility of Zn and Pb is apparently controlled by equilibrium with minerals such as hydrozincite or smithsonite,
and cerussite, respectively. These results allow a correct estimate of the actual environmental risk associated
with the presence of heavy metals in soils, and may serve as a supporting tool for phytoremediation
planning.