Abstract: In order to study the relationship between zinc and copper and common diseases of the middle and old aged persons, the levels of serum zinc and copper and their ratio in 2339 workers and inhabitants of 50 years and older years of age in an inhabited area and a high school of Haidian district in Beijing were measured is 1984. The persons examined were divided into the following groups: 1) diseased (hypertension, borderline hypertension, coronary heart disease,anemia,diseases of bones and Ioints) comprised 1359 indivi- deals below 60 years of age and 447 persons of 60 years and older, 2) healthy com prised 457 persons belo w 60 years of age and 76 persons of 60 years and older.The results of measurtment indicated that the values of zinc and copper of the healthy group were within the normal range as those usually reported.