The　present　study　analyzed　surface　soil　collected　from　agricultural　region　of　Shanghai　to　determine　the　occurrence,　compositional　patterns　and　possible　sources　of　polybrominated　diphenyl　ethers　(PBDEs).　The　results　showed　that　32　PBDEs　were　detected　among　44　target　PBDEs.　Total　PBDE　concentrations　ranged　from　129　to　1245　ng　kg(-1)　with　a　mean　of　429　ng　kg(-1).　BDE209　was　the　predominant　congener　in　a　range　of　33.2-.796　ng　kg(-1)　with　a　mean　of　254　ng　kg(-1).　Meanwhile,　BDE47,　BDE49,　BDE153,　BDE190,　and　BDE99　have　the　most　abundant　with　high　concentrations　and　detectable　frequencies.　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　decabromodiphenyl　ether　(Deca-BDE)　and　pentabromodiphenyl　ether　(Penta-BDE).　The　correlation　analysis　proved　that　there　was　a　significant　correlation　between　total　organic　carbon　(TOC)　and　lower　brominated　PBDEs,　indicating　the　significant　diffuse　nature　of　the　sources　of　these　congeners.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.