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Abstract: Recent occurrence, distribution and mass inventories of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) proposed by USEPA in the south Bohai Sea (BS) were studied based on the analytical data of 71 surface sediment samples. The concentrations of 16 PAHs varied from 37 to 537ngg−1 (dry weight). A clear difference was observed between the coastal Bohai Bay (CBB) and its adjacent BS (ABS) in the distribution and compositions of PAHs. The petrogenic source of phenanthrene in CBB was attributable to the industrial wastewater, fugitive fuel leakages from ships and offshore oil production. Four to six ring PAHs were predominantly from the coal and wood combustions in the whole area. The estimated PAH input to the south BS (43,000km2, 56% of BS in area) was 36.6tonyr−1, indicating that the study area was one of the important reservoirs of PAHs in world. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]