A comparative study of birches (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.), growing in relatively clean natural habitats (e.g."Kivatch" forest reserve) and urban areas (e.g. cities of Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga), indicated significant differences in the contents of some heavy metals (Cd, Pb , Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn) in organs and tissues depending on their growing conditions. Particularly, elevated levels of heavy metals were revealed in the buds, leaves and especially in short shoots (brachyblasts) of the plants growing in an urban environment. Notably, cadmium and lead concentration (in some cases, nickel and zinc) not only exceed the background values, but also came close to the lower level of their limit values.