We investigated survival of two kinds of human embryonic cells (CLV102, Lu106) and human melanoma cells (Mel8) exposed to exogenous iron and copper ions in the absence or in the presence of ascorbic acid, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Iron ions produced cytotoxicity towards both kinds of cells dependent on its concentration. Catalase suppressed the cytotoxicity induced by iron ions in Lu106 cells. whereas in CLV102 and Mel8 cells, was ineffective. By contrast, superoxide dismutase abolished the cytotoxicity of iron ions towards CLV102 cells, whereas in Lu106 and Mel8 cells, was ineffective. The mixture of iron ions with ascorbic acid was less cytotoxic than iron ions themselves or ascorbic acid itself, only in CLV102 and Lu106 cells. Ascorbic acid enhanced drastically cytotoxic effect of copper ions in all kinds of cells.