Abstract: Heavy metal elements in the sediments of the intertidal zone are prone to posing threats to the ecosystem through the transmission and accumulation in the food chain. Studying the variations holds significant importance for the security of the ecological environment. To explore the pollution levels and potential ecological and environmental impacts of typical heavy metals in the surface sediments of the intertidal zone of Yueqing Bay over the past 40 years, this study collected and analyzed the data of sediment samples from 1982, 2007 and 2021. By adpoting single factor index and Hakanson ecological risk index, we analyzed the content of seven heavy metals, i.e. Hg, Cd, As, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn. The results indicated that ①the contents of heavy metals in the surface sediments of Yueqing Bay generally exhibited a changing trend of “first increasing and then decreasing” during the period from 1982 to 2021. ②Judging from the single factor pollutant pollution index C_f, Cu has always been severely polluted, Cr, Pb and Zn have been moderately polluted. Cd changed from moderately polluted to severely polluted in 2007, while Hg and As underwent a transformation from low to moderate and then back to low pollution. ③The geological accumulation index revealed that there has been no pollution of As and Hg throughout. The sediments at most locations might have been contaminated by Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn from 1982 to 2007. After 2007, there was no pollution of Cr and Pb. ④The potential ecological risk index of individual pollutants demonstrated that As, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were all at low ecological risk from 1982 to 2021. The Cd element was at moderate ecological risk in 1982 and at relatively severe ecological risk in 2007 and 2021. The Hg element was at low ecological risk in 1982 and 2021 and at moderate ecological risk in 2007. ⑤In terms of the potential ecological risk index RI, over 90% of the stations were at moderate potential ecological risk in 2007 and 2021, and some stations shifted from moderate-severe potential ecological risk to mild-moderate potential ecological risk in 2021. Generally speaking, the ecological environment of the intertidal zone of Yueqing Bay has improved significantly in the past 20 years. However, it is still necessary to pay attention to the pollution conditions of Cu and Cd.