Abstract: To further identify the release potential ability and the response to the sedimentary environment of heavy metal in sediments of different media, two typical sedimentary sections were selected as study subjects, the Xianyang Tieqiao section and the Huaxian section of Weinan on the Weihe River.Scientific methods such as the Tessier sequential extraction method, heavy metal bioaccumulation indices, and release indices were employed to systematically analyze the differences in lithological structure and physicochemical properties of sediments at the different sections.This study elucidated the occurrence form and vertical distribution characteristics of Cu, Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cr in different sediments.In addition, we assessed the pollution levels of heavy metals in sediments, quantified the release potential of heavy metals in sediments of different properties, and revealed their response mechanisms to the sedimentary environment.The results indicate that the sediments in the study area were subject to composite pollution from multiple heavy metals, in which the residue form dominated.At the Xianyang Tieqiao section, pollution levels were higher in the shallow layers than that in the deep layers.At the Huaxian section, however, pollution levels were higher in the deep layers than that in the shallow layers.The heavy metal release potential in the Huaxian sediments was lower than Xianyang Tieqiao.Differences in sediment lithology and physical-chemical properties were the fundamental reasons for variations in release and bioaccumulation indices between the two sections.The Huaxian′s sedimentary environment was more conducive to the vertical accumulation of heavy metals.