Abstract: Surface soil (0-20 cm) and peanut kernel samples were collected in four main peanut producing areas of Shandong Province, and the contents of six PAEs chemicals that classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants were determined by gas chromatography (GC). The results indicated that the total concentration of six PAEs (∑PAEs) ranged from 0.34 to 2.81 mg·kg^-1, and the mean was 1.22 mg·kg^-1. In four different areas, the order of ∑PAEs concentration in soil was hilly area of middle southern Shandong > western plain of Shandong > Jiaodong Peninsula > northern plain of Shandong. The concentration of DBP in four main peanut producing areas of Shandong Province seriously exceeded the control limit in USA. The content of ∑PAEs ranged from 0.17 to 0.66 mg·kg^-1 in peanut kernels, with the average value 0.34 mg·kg^-1 which was less than the suggested targets in USA and Europe and of low health risk. DEHP and DBP were the main components of PAEs both in soils and peanut kernels, with higher percentage content and detection rate. The ∑PAEs contents in soils or peanut kernels under plastic mulching were significantly higher than that of open field cultivation pattern. The PAEs concentrations in peanut kernels and soils had significant correlation, with the Pearson coefficient 0.786
(∑PAEs), 0.747 (DBP) and 0.511 (DEHP), respectively.