Technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) was applied to estimation of available Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in soil samples taken from three representative contaminated sites in the Czech Republic, investigated in long-term monitoring studies. The results obtained by the DGT technique and conventional leaching procedures are compared and discussed. Availability of the metals was also assessed by evaluation of resupply fluxes of metals from the soil solid matrix.