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The occurrence and bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils and sediments are investigated by many studies, especially in territories exploited by mining and ore-processing activities, nearby agriculture-driven rural cities. Accordingly, the present study aimed at evaluating the geochemical properties, potential bioavailability, and risks for environment and human health of the most concerning PTEs of study area (Gafsa mining basin, Tunisia) such as Cd, Cr, and Zn in selected soil, sediment, and mining waste samples. The extraction of these solid matrixes by modified EU-BCR sequential extraction revealed that the most easily extractable fractions of each PTE were very low (first 2 steps, < 10%), Cd was mainly associated with the oxidizable phase (likely organic matter), and Cr and Zn were mostly found in residual mineral fraction (likely occluded in non-siliceous mineral phase). The total …