Role of living environments in the accumulation characteristics of heavy metals in fishes and crabs in the Yangtze River Estuary, China

► Heavy metal levels in fishes and crabs showed high correlation with environment. ► Tissues of fishes and crabs exhibited diverse metal bioaccumulation mechanism. ► Collichthys lucidus was identified to be an environmental bioindicator. ► Health risks of fishes and crabs in Yangtze River Estuary were not high.