Eight　antibiotic　resistance　genes　(ARGs),　7　heavy　metals,　and　6　antibiotics　were　quantified　in　manures　and　soils　collected　from　multiple　feedlots　in　Shanghai.　The　samples　were　analyzed　to　determine　if　ARC　abundances　were　associated　with　heavy　metal　concentration　and　independent　of　antibiotics.　The　results　revealed　the　presence　of　chloramphenicol,　sulfonamides　and　tetracyclines　at　concentration　ranges　of　3.27-17.85,　5.85-33.37　and　4.54-24.66　mg　kg(-1)　respectively.　Typical　heavy　metals,　such　as　Cu,　Zn,　and　As,　were　detected　at　concentration　ranges　of　32.3-730.1,　75.9-4333.8,　and　2.6-617.2　mg　kg(-1).　All　ARGs　tested　were　detected　in　the　collected　samples　except　tetB(P),　which　was　absent　in　animal　manures.　Overall,　sulfonamide　ARGs　were　more　abundant　than　tetracycline　ARGs.　Except　for　sulII,　only　a　weak　positive　correlation　was　found　between　ARGs　and　their　corresponding　antibiotics.　On　the　contrary,　significant　positive　correlations　(p　＜　0.05)　were　found　between　some　ARGs　and　typical　heavy　metals.　For　example,　sulA　and　sulIII　were　strongly　correlated　with　levels　of　Cu,　Zn　and　Hg.　The　data　demonstrated　that　the　presence　of　ARGs　was　relatively　independent　of　their　respective　antibiotic　inducer.　In　addition　to　antibiotics,　toxic　heavy　metals,　such　as　Hg,　Cu.　and　Zn,　exerted　a　strong　selection　pressure　and　acted　as　complementary　factors　for　ARG　abundance.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.