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Metal pollution in aquatic systems is considered a serious environmental issue globally due to their non-biodegradable nature and they therefore accumulate in aquatic environments. Wetlands are vulnerable to this pollution as they are known to trap toxins, removing them from the water. The Nyl River floodplain is one of the largest and most ecologically significant wetlands in South Africa and has a Ramsar classification. The aims of this study were to determine metal contamination along the Nyl River system by means of artificial mussels (AM), sediment and water ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined at seven sites including Klein Nyl Oog (KNO), Donkerpoort Dam (DPD), Golf Course (GC), Sewage treatment works (STW), Jasper (JAS), Nylsvley (NYL) and Moorddrift Dam (MDD). The AMs accumulated higher levels of Al, Cr, Cu and Pb …