The researchers collected water samples from Meiliang Bay in Taihu Lake, China, and analyzed the metals in suspended solids and sediments. They found that certain heavy metals like Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn were more concentrated in suspended solids than in sediments. The levels of other metals like Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Pb, and V were also higher in suspended solids compared to sediments. The study showed that heavy metals were accumulating in suspended solids, with levels decreasing from the river mouth to the center of Meiliang Bay. This suggests that the river is still releasing a significant amount of heavy metals into the lake. The researchers concluded that the behavior of heavy metals in suspended solids can be a useful indicator of lake pollution.