Abstract: Semivolatile organic chemicals and organochlorine pesticides in the Huaihe River, Jiangsu Province were analyzed. Most of the chemicals were in the list of priority pollutants of USEPA. Then, a series of assessments on risk characteristics of organic chemicals in water body and relative proposals were provided. The risk assessment on these forty\|eight organic chemicals in the Huaihe River was conducted, according to the value of human health for consumption of water and organism in USEPA′s national recommended water quality criteria on priority pollutants and non\|priority pollutants, plus IARC's index of carcinogenicity. The results showed that the concentration levels of eighteen chemicals among them exceeded EPA′s critical standards, while nine of them were in need of special concerns. Among the special nine pollutants, however, eight of them, including Hexachlorobenzene, NNitrosodiNpropylamine, 3,3dichlorobenzidine, 2,4,6trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,5,6pentachlorophenol, indeno(1,2,3cd) pyrene, 4,4′DDT and Heptachlor were in need of concern while another chemical: dibenz (A,H)anthracene be of special concern. The sources of these chemicals were discussed and some control strategies were suggested based on the risk assessment.

Key words: priority pollutants, risk assessment, the Huaihe River