Concentrations and possible sources of polychlorinated biphenyls in the surface water of the Yangtze River Delta, China

► PCBs pollution in surface water from a developing area in China. ► Total PCBs ranged from 1.23-16.6 ng L−1 in surface water of the Yangtze River Delta. ► Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has higher PCBs concentrations than the Yangtze River. ► The levels of PCBs in the metropolitan area and the development zone did not differ. ► The levels of PCBs observed herein pose no aquatic or human health hazard.