Objective The aims were to explore the the residual status and correlation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in typical economic crops and corresponding soils in Guizhou, in order to evaluate the sources of pollution and provide the reference for related food safety and environmental protection.

Method The contents of 16 PAHs as priority pollutants in six typical crops and corresponding soils in Guizhou were detected by gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

Result The total contents of 16 PAHs (Σ₁₆PAHs) in crops ranged from 4.26 to 50.3 μg kg⁻¹, while in soils, it was between 0.077 and 0.464 mg kg⁻¹. Among the crops, the lowest average content of Σ₁₆PAHs (9.34 μg kg⁻¹) was found in strawberries, while the highest (20.2 μg kg⁻¹) was found in sweet potatoes. Among the soils, the lowest average content of Σ₁₆PAHs (0.155 mg kg⁻¹) was found in kiwifruit soil, and the highest (0.358 mg kg⁻¹) was found in sweet potato soil. The detection rates of three-ring fluorene (Flo) and phenanthrene (Phe), as well as four-ring fluoranthene (Fla), were 100% in crops and soils. The average concentration of benzoapyrene (Bap) in the six types of farmland soils did not exceed the national regulatory limit for agricultural land in China. According to international classification standards, the concentration ∑₁₆PAHs in corn and kiwifruit soils possessed an uncontaminated state, while the remaining four crop soils were classified as lightly polluted. Low-molecular-weight (LMW) PAHs with 2-3 rings accounted for over 50% of the total PAHs in all tested crops and their corresponding soils, indicating their dominance in the PAH composition. Judging from the results of diagnostic ratio, oil combustion, biomass and coal combustion were the main human behaviors that caused PAHs to pollute crops and soils. Principal component analysis identified Phe, BaA, Chr, and Fla as the predominant PAHs in crops, as well as Pyr and BaA were predominant PAHs in agricultural soils. The health risk assessment results indicated that sweet potato soil posed potential carcinogenic risks to adult females through dermal contact exposure. Additionally, low-level risks due to prolonged consumption of wheat was happened in adults, while all other crops remained within safe thresholds.

Conclusion The typical agricultural soils in Guizhou Province were generally at uncontaminated to lightly contaminated levels, which was considered acceptable. Meanwhile, the PAH concentrations in crops were relatively low overall, with associated health risks falling within acceptable limits.