The correlation between elements in soils of Tianjin area was studied based on the analytical data of soil samples collected from this area including fluvo-aquic soil,salinized fluvo-aquic soil,boggy fluvo-aquic soil derived from alluvial deposits,lacustrine deposits and diluvial deposits,and cinnamon soils derived from granite,limestone,sandstone ete.The contents of Co,Ni,Li,Cd,Cu Cr and Pb were determined by AAS,those of Fe,Zn,Sr,Zr,Ti and Ca by XRF;that of As by Ag-DDTC speetrophotometry and that of Hg by cold vapour atomic absorption method.Correlation coefficients were calculated by the aid of statistical method with natural logarithm of analytical.data.Critical value of correlation coefficient was 0.254,which was calculated by the correlation detection method (α=0.01,n=103).According to the data obtained,the correlation coefficients are divided into four levels i,e,significantly correlated(|R|>0.75),better correlated (0.75>|R|>0.50),correlated (0.50>|R|>0.25),and incorrelated(|R|>0.25).The degree of correlation of elements is related to their geochemical characteristics.It is found that there is a positive correlation between the elements,if their geochemical characteristics are similar;while there is a negative correlation between them,if they are different in geochemical characteristics with different directions of their translocation and accumulation.In addition,in the soil forming process the organic matter,chemical and physical conditions,etc.can offeet the translocation,accumulation and degree of correlation of elements in soil.