With the present investigation, which included in the first place the intensively used regions of Switzerland, it was tried to give a general view of the soil contents of lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. Using the extraction method with 2MHNO₃, described in the “Ordinance Relating to Pollutants in Soil” (VSBo), approximated and not real total contents were determined. It was found that the values mostly lie below the guide levels in the VSBo. The influence of different site factors (geology, land utilization, aerosol emissions from industry, incineration plants and traffic) on the heavy metal contents in soil are discussed. Proceeding from the contents in the subsoil, indications about natural basic contents are made.