Abstract: Several aquatic plants in some lakes in the middle reach of the Yangtze River were analyzed for heavy metals by ICP-AES techniques.It was found that aquatic plants have strong ability in absorbing heavy metals (such as Zn,Cr,Pb,Cd,Ni and Cu),while the addition of some heavy metals such as Cd would decrease contents of some essential elements (such as Zn).Additionally,aquatic plants could control distribution of heavy metals within their bodies,with more accumulated in the roots.According to Metal Pollution Index (MPI),concentrations of heavy metals in the lakes near cites are higher than that in other lakes in the countryside.