Abstract: Contents of 24 heavy metals in the surface sediments of Jiulong River Estuary were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution degree and sources of the heavy metals were assessed and discussed. The results showed that the contents of heavy metals in the sediments followed the decreasing order of w(Fe)>w(Ti)>w(Mn)>w(Ba)>w(Zn)>w(Sc)>w(Co)>w(Rb)>w(Y)>w(Ni)>w(Cr)>w(Pb)>w(Cu)>w(Th)>w(Sr)>w(V)>w(Li)>w(U)>w(Cs)>w(Bi)>w(Cd)>w(Sb)>w(Mo)>w(Hg). Contents of Cd, Sc, Bi, Co, Ni, Zn, Hg and Cu were much higher than the background values, indicating these elements were rich in the sediments. Geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and potential ecological risk index were applied to evaluate the pollution degree and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the area. The results of pollution assessment by geo-accumulation index revealed that the pollution degree of Cd was the highest and at a severely polluted level. The assessment results of potential ecological risk indicated that the potential ecological risk of heavy metals showed the order of Cd>Hg>Co>Ni>Cu>Zn>Pb>Cr>Mn>V. Cadmium had a high potential ecological risk, followed by Hg, which presented considerably high potential ecological risk. Multivariate statistical analysis (factor analysis and cluster analysis) was applied to investigate the possible sources of heavy metal pollution in the sediments. The results suggested that a combination of pollution of agricultural activities and natural processes, coal combustion pollution and mining pollution were the three major sources, accounting for 48.81%, 21.51% and 13.72%, respectively.