Toxic effects of Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ in tomato plants were the reduction in vegetative growth of seedlings and also in flowering and fruiting. Toxicity of these heavy metals resulted in a reduction in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and soluble sugars, but in an increase in proline. Toxic metal stress caused a 71.71, 77.70 and 11.90% increase in the activities of peroxidase, catalase and ascorbic acid oxidase, respectively. With respect to the total uptake of Cd 2+ , the biggest sink for the metal was provided by roots with 72.80% retention followed by 22% in the stem. Accumulation of Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ gradually increased in the order of root, stem and leaves, but for Cu 2+ that was reversed, that is, it increased in the order of leaf, stem and root. A new consideration of metals bioavailability is discussed in terms of their respective solubility product constants, pH of precipitation, and metal complexation.