Surface　soil　samples　taken　from　55　sampling　sites　at　the　urban　areas　of　Shanghai　were　collected　and　analyzed　for　the　occurrence　of　144　polychlorinated　biphenyls　(PCBs)　by　GC-mu　ECD.　The　results　showed　that　totally　74　PCB　congeners　were　identified　and　the　mean　concentration　of　total　PCBs　was　3057　ng　kg(-1)　with　a　range　of　232　to　11325　ng　kg(-1).　Compared　with　the　related　reports,　the　level　of　PCBs　contamination　in　this　study　was　approximately　equal　to　the　global　background　value　in　soils,　but　higher　than　Chinese　background　for　rural　and　urban　soils.　According　to　the　compositional　profiles　of　PCBs　homologues,　a　higher　proportion　of　low　chlorinated　(from　tri-CBs　to　hexa-CBs)　was　observed.　The　results　indicated　that　PCB15　+　13,　PCB18,　PCB28,　PCB104　+　47　and　PCB153　were　the　most　dominant　congeners　among　the　identified　PCBs.　Through　homologues　analysis,　cluster　analysis　and　principal　component　analysis　(PCA),　it　was　found　that　PCBs　were　stretched　from　mixed　local　sources,　and　appeared　to　be　mostly　originated　by　Aroclor　1260-　and　1254-like　mixtures　as　well　as　some　samples　influenced　by　Aroclor　1232　and　1242.　The　correlation　analysis　showed　the　relatively　good　correlation　among　the　PCB　homologues　and　soil　total　organic　carbon　(TOC),　suggesting　important　influence　of　soil　TOC　on　PCBs　contamination　in　soil　matrix　in　Shanghai　region.　The　toxic　equivalency　(TEQ)　concentrations　of　these　six　dioxin-like　PCBs　detected　in　urban　soil　samples　range　from　2.71　to　24.9　pg　kg(-1)-PCDDeq　with　a　mean　8.18　pg　kg(-1)-PCDDeq.　Crown　Copyright　(C)　2011　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.