A laboratory set-up has been elaborated to enable the generation of reproducible and accuratedata on metal release from massive or particulate metallic samples, defining the optimumconditions according to the OECD transformation/dissolution protocol. The OECD T/Dprotocol has been developed to evaluate short term and long term aquatic toxicity of solubleand available metal-ionic species released from metals and sparingly soluble inorganic metalcompounds in aqueous media at laboratory conditions.The influence of different experimental parameters on the metal release process has beenthoroughly investigated by varying critical parameters of the OECD test; immersion time,temperature, agitation, solution pH, aging time, preparation procedure and sample surfacearea to solution volume ratio. Even within the limits, set by the protocol for each parameter,the degree of metal release varies significantly.