The　level,　distribution,　compositional　pattern,　and　possible　sources　of　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)　in　agricultural　soil　of　Shanghai　were　investigated.　The　concentrations　ranged　from　140.7　to　2,370.8　mu　g　kg　(-aEuro　parts　per　thousand　1)　for　21　PAHs　and　from　92.2　to　2,062.7　mu　g　kg　(-aEuro　parts　per　thousand　1)　for　16　priority　PAHs,　respectively.　The　higher　level　of　PAHs　was　mainly　distributed　in　the　south　and　west　of　Shanghai　region,　and　the　lower　concentration　was　found　in　Chongming　Island.　Generally,　the　composition　pattern　of　PAHs　was　characterized　with　high　molecular　weight　PAHs,　the　seven　possible　carcinogenic　PAHs　accounted　for　4.8-50.8%　of　the　total　PAHs,　and　fluoranthene,　pyrene,　and　benzo[b]fluoranthene　were　the　most　dominant　components　in　soil　samples.　The　correlation　analysis　suggested　that　low　molecular　weight　PAHs　and　high　molecular　weight　PAHs　were　originated　from　different　sources　and　further　corroborated　that　total　organic　carbon　was　a　key　soil　property　affecting　the　fate　of　persistent　organic　pollutants　in　the　environment.　The　isomer　ratios　and　principal　component　analysis　indicated　that　PAHs　in　the　investigated　areas　were　derived　primarily　from　combustion　of　biomass,　coal,　and　petroleum.　Compared　to　the　soil　quality　standards　of　the　Netherlands,　all　the　target　PAHs　(except　Ant)　in　most　samples　exceeded　their　target　values.　The　Nemerow　composite　index　based　on　the　same　soil　quality　standard　showed　that　69.4%　of　the　soil　samples　were　heavily　polluted.　The　total　BaP(eq)　of　ten　Dutch　target　PAHs　in　72%　soil　samples　were　higher　than　the　reference　total　carcinogenic　potency.　Therefore,　the　agricultural　soil　in　Shanghai　is　suffering　from　serious　PAHs　contamination.