After a S-d cultivatíon in Solutions of different concentrations of lead and copper, structiiral changes were established in the photosynthetic apparatus of Elodea canadensis Rich. Lead and low concentrations of copper (0.03, 0.06 and 0.25 g m’^) did not induce large structural transformations in the protoplast. Some of the changes were specific for the species; vacuolization of the cytoplasm, instability of the tonoplast, increased activity of the dictyosomes, abnormally active division of the mitochondria, and number of chloroplasts and mitochondria in definite cell zones. High concentrations of copper (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g m*^) induced within 5 d a generál destruction of the protoplast. The concentration of 0.5 g(Cu^0 threshold concentration for survival of this species. High quantities of both metals were accumulated in the treated plants.