Cluster analysis, anova, and multiple comparison were used to investigate the spat ial distribution pattern of PAHs in the surface soils of Tianjin. It was revealed that the studied area can be categorized into three subarea with similarity in PAH level and profile within each category, i. e. the Tanggu-Hangu area with the hightest in PAH level, the urban-suburb area with the relatively high in PAH level, and the rural area low in PAH level. In addition to PAH contents in the soil, the profile of 16 PAH compounds dist inguished from one area to another. It was demonstrated that coal combustion is the only major source to the PAHs in the rural area, while vehicle emission as well as other industrial activities add more PAHs to the other two area in addition to input from coal combustion.