The total organic carbon(TOC)， acid volatile sulfide(AVS)， and heavy metal elements
 content for four sediment cores, which were collected from the Licun Estuary of Jiaozhou Bay near Qingdao， Shandong Province were measured by instruments. Their environmental responses were discussed. It was found that the distribution of TOC，AVS and heavy metal elements was controlled by the distance away from the estuary and facies distribution. Near the entrance of the river， TOC content was relatively high and was controlled by terrestrial input. The AVS and heavy metal elements content were relatively high. The quantity of active Fe controlled the formation of AVS， and most reactive metals relied on AVS. A short distance away from the entrance of the river， sediments were coarser and its TOC content was lower than those near the entrance， and it was controlled by both marine and terrestrial sources. The AVS and heavy metal content were relatively low. The quantity of TOC controlled AVS production， and most reactive metals relied on the Fe form. Based on the sedimentary characteristics， the environmental responses of these elements were separated into three areas and five types， ie. the subaqueous distributary channel and distributary bay in type 1 area， the subaqueous distributary channel and distributary bay in type 2 area， and the delta front sandbodies in type 3 area.