Abstract: The relationship between Benzo(a)pyrene ［B(a)P］ concentration in drinking water and morbidity and mortality caused by malignant tumors was investigated in Huai''an City, downstream of the Huaihe River. A total of 159 water samples from 28 villages of 14 towns in Xuyi County, Jinhu County and Chuzhou District were collected during the high and low flow periods in Huai''an City. Samples of deep groundwater, shallow groundwater and surface water were collected in all the selected villages simultaneously. B(a)P was analyzed by SPE coupled with GC-MS. B(a)P was detected in 89.94% of the samples, and the mean concentration of B(a)P was 9.77 ng/L. Concentrations of B(a)P in about 25.78% of the water samples exceeded the water quality standard. The B(a)P level was significantly different among samples in deep groundwater, shallow groundwater and surface water (χ²=10.15, P<0.01) collected during the high flow period. Its concentration in surface water was the highest. There were statistically significant differences in cancer morbidity and mortality of the residents in the three counties. Meanwhile, there was midly significant difference in the mean B(a)P concentration in the water samples of the three counties. There was no significant correlation between cancer epidemiological status and B(a)P level for the three kinds of water samples during high flow and low flow periods. Although the B(a)P concentrations in some of the water samples exceeded the water quality standard, there was no evidence of its correlation with high cancer morbidity.