Abstract: Based on the monitoring data of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, and As in sediments, pollution load index and geoaccumulation index, were used to assess heavy metals pollution. The aquatic ecological risk and human health risk were calculated by potential ecological risk index and health risk evaluation. The results showed that, river sediments in Jiangyin were affected by urban runoff and heavy metal polluted enterprises. Cu, Zn, and Pb levels peaked in flood season; As and Cu levels peaked in dry season. The consequences of pollution load index and geo-accumulation index showed that the pollution status declined slightly in dry season. Geo-accumulation index suggested a more optimistic estimate for heavy metal contamination, with the background fluctuation parameter included. The potential ecological risk was slight. The cancer risk was 10-3, while non-cancer risk was 10-7. So the cancer risk was a key contribution in human health risk. The potential risk was higher in flood season, while the human health risk was higher in dry season. This is probably because of different contribution rate of various heavy metal species during human health risk and potential ecological risk. Key words：Jiangyin city; heavy metal; pollution load index; geoaccumulation index method; potential ecological risk index; health risk evaluation