Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a specific group of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), have been widely used in an array of industrial appliances and released into environment during use, recycling and disposal processes. They are now considered to be widely distributed persistent organic pollutants. The derivatives of PBDEs hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) have also received extensive attention because of their more toxic effects and complex environmental behavior than the parent compounds. The recent research progress on the distribution, transformation and biological effects of PBDEs and their derivatives in soil was reviewed. The results showed that the distribution concentration of PBDEs in soil decreased with increasing distance from the industrial area. In most contaminated areas, high-brominated PBDEs were detected as the primary pollutants in soil, while low-brominated PBDEs dominated in the soil in remote areas. PBDEs could be brominated, hydroxylated and methoxylated to produce lower brominated PBDEs congeners, OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs by animals, plants and microorganisms when they entered the soil environment. At the same times, OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs could also be transformed into each other. As an environmental endocrine disruptor, PBDEs and their derivatives had significant toxic effects on most plants and animals. For plants, they could inhibit seed germination, seedling growth, damage cell structure, and affect plant metabolism. For animals, they could affect their endocrine function, inhibit the development of their reproductive system, and cause toxicity to the nervous system. Up to now, research on the environmental chemistry behavior and ecological toxicity of PBDEs and their derivatives in soil ecosystem was very limited. The study on metabolic transformation and toxic effect of PBDEs in soil will provide scientific evidence for a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the environmental behavior and potential ecological risks of PBDEs.