Mischief　Reef,　the　largest　atoll　of　Nansha　Islands,　China,　is　an　important　sea　passage　for　heavy　tonnage　ships　and　an　excellent　base　for　marine　fisheries.　No　pollution　survey　of　this　reef　has　been　previously　conducted.　The　results　indicated　that　total　concentrations　of　16　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)　in　the　investigated　44　marine　organisms　(37　fishes　and　7　invertebrates)　ranged　from　12.8　to　81.3　ng/g　wet　weight　(ww).　A　significant　positive　correlation　was　observed　between　lipid　content　and　the　PAH　concentrations　based　on　ww　only　in　the　fish　inside　the　reef.　The　low　molecular　weight　PAHs　accounted　for　the　largest　proportion　(88%).　The　principal　component　analysis　suggested　four　main　sources　of　PAHs:　combustion　of　fossil　fuels　(37%),　oil　spills　and　diesel-powered　cargo　ship　emissions　(14%),　traffic-related　exhaust　(13%)　and　coal　combustion　(11%).　Seafood　from　Mischief　Reef　is　safe　for　human　consumption.