  We have calculated relative elemental abundances for a sample of 43 symbiotic
stars. Helium abundances and the relative elemental abundances N/O, Ne/O, Ar/O
were derived from new spectra collected in the optical range through low
dispersion spectroscopy. The He ionic abundances were derived taking into
account self-absorption effects in Balmer lines. We found that the symbiotic
stars in the galactic bulge have heavy element abundances showing the same wide
distribution as other bulge objects. In the galactic disk, the symbiotic stars
follow the abundance gradient as derived from different kinds of objects.
