Cation-exchange adsorbents were prepared by radiation-induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto polypropylene (PP) fabric and polyethylene (PE) hollow fiber and subsequent phosphonation of epoxy groups of poly(GMA) graft chains. The adsorption characteristics of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ for the two cation-exchange adsorbents were studied. In the grafting of GMA onto PP fabric, the degree of grafting (%) increased with an increase in reaction time, reaction temperature, and pre-irradiation dose. The maximum grafting yield was observed around 60 % GMA concentration. In 50, 130 and 250 % GMA-grafted PP fabric, the content of phosphoric acid was 1.52, 3.40 and 4.50 mmol/g at 80℃ in the 85 % phosphoric acid aqueous solution for 24 h, respectively. The adsorption of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ by PP fabric adsorbent was enhanced with an increased phosphoric acid content. The order of adsorption capacity of the PP fabric adsorbent was Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Cu²⁺. In adsorption of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ by PE hollow fiber, the amount of Pb²⁺ adsorbed by the PE hollow fiber adsorbent containing 1.21 mmol/g of -PO₃H was ca. 54.4 g per kg. The adsorption amount of Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ the same PE hollow fiber was ca. 21.0 g per kg and co. 32.1 g per kg, respectively. The order of adsorption of the PE hollow fiber adsorbent was Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Cu²⁺.