Short-chain　chlorinated　paraffins　(SCCPs)　are　extremely　complex　technical　mixtures　of　polychlorinated　n-alkanes　with　carbon　chain　lengths　from　C-10　to　C-13　and　chlorine　content　between　49　and　70　%.　SCCPs　are　under　consideration　for　inclusion　in　the　Stockholm　Convention　on　persistent　organic　pollutants.　SCCPs　have　been　used　extensively　in　industrial　production,　but　little　is　known　about　the　pollution　level　in　soil　environment　in　China.　In　this　study,　levels　and　distribution　of　SCCPs　in　soil　samples　from　Chongming　Island　were　analyzed.　Concentrations　of　total　SCCPs　in　soil　samples　ranged　from　0.42　to　420　ng　g(-1),　with　a　median　of　9.6　ng　g(-1).　The　ubiquitous　occurrence　of　SCCPs　in　Chongming　Island　implied　that　long-range　atmospheric　transport　and　soil-air　exchange　may　be　the　most　important　pathways　for　SCCP　contamination　in　the　background　area.　The　localized　SCCP　contamination　could　be　derived　from　an　unidentified　source.　Hierarchical　cluster　analysis　indicated　that　C-13-　and　C-11-congeners　were　predominant　in　most　soils　and　C-10-　and　C-12-congeners　dominated　in　the　remaining　soils.　Cl-7-　and　Cl-8-congeners　were　on　the　average　the　most　dominant　chlorine　congeners　in　nearly　all　soils.　Principal　component　analysis　suggested　that　the　separation　of　even　and　odd　carbon　chain　congeners　occurred　during　long-range　atmospheric　transport　and　aging　in　soil　in　the　study　area.