This study was designed to determine concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil samples collected from Midway Atoll and evaluate their potential risks to human health. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs ranged from 3.55 to 3200 mg kg21 with a mean concentration of 198 mg kg21. Higher molecular weight PAHs (4–6 ring PAHs) dominated the PAH profiles, accounting for 83.3% of total PAH mass. PAH diagnostic ratio analysis indicated that primary sources of PAHs in Midway Atoll could be combustion. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration (BaPeq) in most of the study area (86.5%) was less than 40 mg kg21 BaPeq and total incremental lifetime cancer risks of PAHs ranged from 1.00610210 to 9.2061026 with a median value of 1.2461027, indicating a minor carcinogenic risk of PAHs in Midway Atoll.