Abstract: Levels, composition and distribution characteristics of 21polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in surface soils from a typical waste plastic recycling region in North China. The result showed that the concentrations of total PBDEs ranged from 1.25to 3673.41ng/g with a mean value of 749.29ng/g. BDE209was the most dominant congener (>92%) of PBDEs in soils. The PBDE levels in the workshop soils were higher than those in the road soils and surrounding soils. The industrial decabromodiphenyl added in plastic was the main source of PBDEs in the soils of the region. Compared with previous studies, the results showed that the PBDE levels in soils in this study were similar to those in some e-waste recycling regions of China. Moreover, the concentrations of PBDEs in this study were 1to 3orders of magnitude higher than those reported in other urban soils in China, which should be paid more attention regarding to the potential higher environmental risks of PBDE in these soils.