The study aimed to evaluate the quality of some suburban soils in Budapest (Hungary) by integrating different physico-chemical and ecotoxicological approaches. Soils were sampled from six different sites and characterized for main soil properties (pH, CaCO3, humus, and total-extractable metal concentrations (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn). Ecotoxicological characterization was carried out using test species from different taxonomic groups: Azomonas agilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens (bacteria),

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... apis alba, and Lactuca sativa (plants), Folsomia candida, and Eisenia fetida (invertebrates). All ecotoxicological tests performed showed some degree of toxicity due to contact with certain soil samples, however, the test organisms showed different sensitivities. The results showed that the dehydrogenase activity of P. fluorescens, the germination rate of the studied plants, and the reproduction rate of the invertebrates were the most sensitive toxicological endpoints. Based on our correlation analysis, the outcome of ecotoxicological tests was influenced by the humus content and heavy metal concentration of the soil.