Abstract: The distribution characteristics of eleven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the pulp waste water and in seashore wetland soil irrigated by the waste water were detected by GC-ECD. The result shows that the concentrations of PAHs in the gray water, bleached water, black liquid and integrated waste water ranged from 12.826 to 16.83 μ g-1. The total amount of PAHs in the seashore wetland soil irrigated with the papermaking waste water containing PAHs increased significantly and the quantity is still increasing over time. The concentration of PAHs in the unirrigated soil and in soil after irrigated for one year and two years was 7.83, 22.04 and 29.96 mg kg-1, respectively.