Concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in 28 surface soils samples collected from Urumqi, northwest China, for examination of distributions, source contributions, and potential health effects. The results indicated that the sum of 16 PAHs concentration ranged from 331 to 15,799 μg kg(-1) (dw) in soils, with a mean of 5,018 ± 4,896 μg kg(-1) (n = 28). The sum of seven carPAHs concentration ranged from 4 to 1,879 μg kg(-1) (dw; n = 28). The highest ∑PAHs concentrations were found at roadsides and industrial sites, followed by those at parks, rural areas, and business/residential areas. Coal combustion, emission of diesel and gasoline from vehicles, and petroleum source were four sources of PAHs as determined by PMF analysis, which contributed 51.19, 19.02, 18.35, and 11.42% to the PAH sources, respectively. Excellent coefficients of correlation between the measured and predicted PAHs concentrations suggested that the PMF model was very effective to estimate sources of PAHs in soils. Incremental lifetime cancer risk values at the 95th percentile due to human exposure to surface soils PAHs in Urumqi were 2.02 × 10(-6) for children and 2.72 × 10(-5) for adults. The results suggested that the current PAHs levels in soils from Urumqi were pervasive and moderately carcinogenic to children and adults.