Relations between changes in bed morphology and heavy metal concentrations were investigated in the Mała Panew River channel in southern Poland. Samples of bed sediments were collected at ten locations 12 times during two years. Concentrations of cadmium, zinc and lead in the river sediments are among the highest in Poland and in silt-clay fraction it reaches 600, 4000 and 500 ppm, respectively. At most channel locations, migration of one or two sand bars was observed. Usually a dead water zone, which was a particularly important sink for fine, strongly polluted organic sediments, appeared in front of the bar. Here, also the highest heavy metal concentrations occurred. The dead water existed usually for several months until it was destroyed by a flood or filled with sand sediments in the case of the bar front accretion. As a result, a marked drop of metal concentrations, accompanied by higher flow velocities, followed in a relatively short period.