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Three functional zones, namely the industrial (IND), the agricultural (AGR), and the grassland (GRA) areas from Inner Mongolia (a remote province in northern China), were selected to evaluate the levels and distributions of PBDEs and the risks posed to local humans. PBDEs concentrations in surface soils and tree bark were detected and the air levels were estimated based on bark measurements. The total concentrations (∑ 8 PBDEs) of BDE-28, -47, −100, −99, −154, −153, −183, and −209 in soils were 1.71–64.9 ng/g dry weight (d.w.), 0.720–4.08 ng/g d.w., and 0.604–3.76 ng/g d.w. in the IND, AGR and GRA areas respectively. The average total concentrations in bark and air were 0.792 ng/g d.w. and 0.125 ng/m³ in the AGR areas respectively, which were lower than those (1.69 ng/g d.w. in the bark and 0.476 ng/m³ in the air) in the IND areas. BDE-209 was the dominant congener, consistent with DeBDE being the dominant commercial products used in China. However, except for BDE-209, BDE-28 and BDE-47 in the AGR and GRA areas averagely contributed about half of the total PBDEs concentrations in soils. BDE-28 concentrations in the bark samples of the AGR areas were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the IND areas, and the average total hazard quotients (∑ 8 PBDEs) were higher for humans in the AGR areas (0.12) than in the IND areas (0.08). Degradation of higher-brominated congeners (e.g., BDE-209) and migration of lower-brominated congeners (mainly BDE-28 and BDE-47) may increase the risks to humans in pristine areas. • PBDEs pollution is widespread in Inner Mongolia. • BDE-28 concentrations in bark of AGR areas were significantly higher than in IND areas. • The exposure risk in pristine areas can be higher than in polluted areas due to LRAT of lower-brominated congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]