In　this　study,　the　occurrence　and　distribution　patterns　of　eight　organophosphate　esters　(OPEs)　were　investigated　in　urban　and　rural　surface　water　in　a　typical　cosmopolitan　city:　Shanghai,　China.　In　addition,　concentration　levels　and　removal　efficiencies　of　seven　sewage　treatment　plants　were　analyzed.　The　OPEs　concentrations　detected　in　urban　rivers　were　significantly　higher　than　those　detected　in　rural　rivers.　Total　OPEs　ranged　from　185.4　to　321ngL(-1)　in　rural　surface　water　and　from　340　to　1688.7ngL(-1)　in　urban,　with　an　average　of　221.8ngL(-1)　and　850.2ngL(-1),　respectively.　Compared　with　other　studies　published　in　the　world,　the　OPEs　contamination　in　surface　river　water　in　Shanghai　was　at　a　moderate　level.　Furthermore,　the　potential　sources　of　OPEs　in　urban　surface　water　were　investigated,　and　the　results　indicated　that　OPEs　in　urban　surface　water　mainly　came　from　three　potential　sources.　In　rural　surface　water,　the　OPE　concentrations　were　uniformly　distributed,　so　OPEs　in　rural　surface　water　may　came　from　nonpoint　source　pollution.　Last,　a　preliminary　environmental　risk　assessment　and　health　risk　assessment　were　conducted.　The　results　showed　low　environmental　risks　at　all　sampling　sites　(except　for　sampling　point　R7:　medium　risk　for　algae)　for　the　three　aquatic　organisms　(algae,　daphnia,　and　fish).　Health　risk　assessment　indicated　a　noncarcinogenic　risk　for　diverse　human　groups　for　?OPEs.