Application of DTPA as a soil additive increased the uptake of 239Pu, 241Am, and 244Cm by tumbleweeds but did not increase the amount of these elements retained in rats fed the contaminated plants. These results are in accord with what is known of the metabolism of DTPA chelated transuranics in rats, i.e. absorbed chelates are nearly quantitatively excreted in urine without appreciable tissue retention. The major biological impact of DTPA in soils appears to be limited to the soil-plant interface. Aside from the potential for increasing the amount of radioactivity ingested via plants, the chelating agent is expected to exert little influence on subsequent animal metabolism. It was observed that gut absorption values for materials containing 239Pu were higher than usually reported for similar studies. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.