The emission strength of VOCs was estimated in the study, based on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measurement results. Air mass backward trajectories were computed and cluster analysis was done combining with the corresponding air pollution indexes and VOCs concentrations. Source apportionment of VOCs was studied using receptor model. According to this study, VOCs emission in Shanghai per hour resulted in the VOCs concentration increment of (5.98 +/- 3.18) x 10(-9) during 2010 EXPO (from 1st May to 31st October in 2010), which was decreased by about 1 x 10(-9) compared to that in the same period of 2009. Under the control of the air masses roughly from the east (40%), the API was lower than 50. Influenced by the air masses from the northwest, the air quality was the worst with the average API higher than 70. The air masses from the southwest also resulted in bad air quality, with API higher than 60. The air masses originated from the west accounted for 25%, followed by the south and north air mass (20%). The VOCs concentrations were positively related to API in the same air mass, R2 = 0.599. During the 2010 EXPO, the emission related to vehicles including exhaust and gasoline evaporation contributed the largest amount of VOCs, approximately about -40%, followed by industry including industrial processes and coal combustion (30% - 40%), and solvent use and painting (20%). The biogenic emission was also considerable and accounted for 6% of VOCs in summer.