A plant uptake study was conducted to assess the bioavailability of lead and tungsten generated by small-arms range firing. Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) was planted in six soil types that had been fired on with tungsten–nylon and lead 5.56 mm rounds. After 45 days of growth, plants were harvested and tissue concentrations were analyzed for metal concentrations. Plant uptake of lead and tungsten in the post-firing soils was not affected by different firing distances. Plant uptake concentrations of tungsten were greater than those of lead in all six soils. Soils fired upon at identical firing distances of 25 m with tungsten–nylon and lead rounds showed that tungsten uptake concentrations were 113 times greater than the lead uptake. At 98.5 m, tungsten uptake concentrations were 108 times greater than lead uptake on tungsten–nylon and lead fired soils respectively. Tungsten was found to be more bioavailable to yellow nutsedge than was lead.

Key words: bioavailability, Cyperus esculentus, tungsten