Fourteen　and　17　sediment　samples　were　collected　from　three　main　rivers　of　Shanghai　in　July　and　November,　respectively.　Eight　polybrominated　diphenyl　ether　(PBDE)　congeners　(BDE-28,　BDE-47,　BDE-99,　BDE-100,　BDE-153,　BDE-154,　BDE-183,　and　BDE-209)　were　detected　in　these　samples　to　clarify　the　pollution　status　in　the　metropolis.　Instrumental　analyses　showed　that　the　concentrations　of　Sigma　8PBDEs　ranged　from　10.97　to　64.05　ng/g　dry　weight　(dw),　with　an　average　value　of　29.71　ng/g　dw.　BDE-209　was　the　predominant　congener　accounting　for　more　than　97　%　of　total　PBDEs,　followed　by　BDE-47　and　BDE-99.　Remarkable　spatial　and　seasonal　distributions　of　PBDE　concentrations　were　observed,　suggesting　that　local　sources,　seasonal　climates,　and　hydrologic　conditions　might　be　the　influencing　factors.　Moderate　correlations　(r　(2)　=　0.28-0.51,　p　＜　0.05)　were　found　between　total　organic　carbon　and　PBDEs,　which　indicated　that　organic　carbon　content　influenced　the　distributions　of　PBDEs　in　sediment　of　Shanghai　at　some　extent.　Hazard　quotients　revealed　PBDEs　posed　no　potential　risk　to　benthic　organisms　in　the　study　area　at　present.