By　a　long-term　field　investigation,　occurrence,　compositional　profiles　and　possible　sources　of　polybrominated　diphenyl　ethers　(PBDE)　were　analyzed　with　55　samples　collected　from　surface　soil　at　the　urban　areas　of　Shanghai.　The　results　showed　that　29　PBDE　were　detected　among　44　target　PBDEs.　The　concentrations　of　Sigma　29PBDE　ranged　from　23.6　to　3797　ng　kg(-1)　with　a　mean　value　of　735　ng　kg(-1).　BDE209　was　the　predominant　congener　in　a　range　of　0.291-2910　ng　kg(-1)　with　a　mean　of　477　ng　kg(-1)　in　agreement　with　the　fact　that　commercial　decabromodiphenyl　ether　(DeBDE)　mixtures　were　dominant　technical　PBDEs　mixtures　used　in　China.　Meanwhile,　PBDE　congeners　and　homologues　analysis　and　principal　component　analysis　(PCA)　also　revealed　that　the　major　source　of　PBDE　in　the　soil　samples　was　associated　with　the　prevalent　use　of　technical　DePBDE.　The　correlation　analysis　proved　that　there　was　a　significant　correlation　between　total　organic　carbon　(TOC)　and　individual　PBDEs　excluding　BDE209,　suggesting　the　significant　influence　of　TOC　on　PBDE　contamination　in　soil.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.