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Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 37 surface sediments and a sediment core from the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve in Hainan island of China were analysed. The total concentration of the 16 PAHs ranged from 15.7 to 464.0 ng g−1 (mean value of 76.7 ng g−1) in the surface sediments, and 8.6-115.9 ng g−1 (average 39.3 ng g−1) in the sediment core. Combustions of petroleum, biomass, coal, and grass were the major pyrogenic sources in surface sediments, and some areas had petrogenic sources (mainly petroleum spills). Results of the ecological risk assessment show little negative effect of most of the PAHs in the study area. The depositional flux of PAHs generally increased from the deeper layers toward the upper layers of the sediments. The flux rate rapidly increased after the 1980s, in contrast to that of some developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]