Desorption of Cd from two Danish soils (loamy sand, sandy loam) previously exposed to low concentrations of Cd was examined in terms of reversibility, effect of changes in solute composition, and effects of aging of the soils for extended time prior to accomplishing the desorption experiments. The loamy sand exhibited full reversibility of Cd sorption in 10-3 M CaC12 at pH = 6.0, while the sandy loam at the same conditions exhibited a partial irreversibility of the order of 1/~g Cd g-x soil. However, this partial irreversibility was not caused by any strong binding of Cd since no irreversibility was observed in 10 -2 M CaC1 z at the same pH. Changing the solute composition with respect to Zn, CaCI> pH and the presence of organic ligands (EDTA) caused significant desorption of Cd from the soils. The degree of desorption was proven with respect to variations in CaC12 and pH to be governed by the sorption equilibrium conditions independently of the previous distribution of Cd between soil and solute. Aging of the soil at a temperature of 1 ยฐC (after exposure to Cd) for 35 and 67 wk did not reveal any changes with respect to desorption of Cd at pH = 6.0 in 10-~ M CaCI>