Impact of irrigat ion with arsenic-containing sewage from chemical fertilizer factory on soil arsenic content was evaluated based on sampling of representative soils along Huafei River and in the suburbs of Kaifeng city.The results showed that soil arsenic content varied among different irrigation patterns with higher soil arsenic content in high rate sewage irrigation area than in sewage irrigation and mixed irrigation areas.Soil arsenic content steadily increased along Huafei River from drainage out let downstream and showed a clear regularity as a function of the distance perpendicular to the direction of main stream and soil utilization patterns.The safe sewage irrigation duration obtained by correlation analysis was 30~35 years.Irrigation with clear water was an effective way to lower soil arsenic content.