Abstract: Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was planted in contaminated soil with different level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through pot experiment. The content and composition of 16 PAHs in soils and spinach were detected, the transfer factors of PAHs in each part of spinach were analyzed, and the health risks of PAHs in spinach for people with different age were assessed. The results show that the content of PAHs in aboveground and underground part of spinach was 72.8-516.9 and 153.4-1 101.6 ng·g^-1, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the content of PAHs in soil and that in spinach. The mass fractions of 3 rings and 4 rings PAHs in each part of spinach were high, and the mass fractions of carcinogenic compounds in the aboveground part of spinach was in the range of 5.4%-30.6%. The transfer factor of PAHs in underground part of spinach was higher than that in the aboveground (P < 0.05). Children, adults and the elderly have a lifetime cancer risk if they ingest spinach grown in diesel contaminated soil, and adults and the elderly have a lifetime cancer risk if they ingest spinach grown in heavily contaminated soil. In addition to adults, other people do not have lifetime cancer risk through ingestion of spinach grown in mildly and moderately PAHs contaminated soil. The lifetime cancer risk is higher in spinach grown in diesel contaminated soil than in other soils.