Because　of　the　anatomic　location　of　stomach　and　its　acid　environment　which　is　different　from　the　other　organs,　food　exposure　to　heavy　metals　is　a　well-known　risk　factor　for　human　gastric　cancers.　To　evaluate　the　potential　risks,　we　analyzed　the　concentrations　of　heavy　metals　(Cr,　Cd,　Pb,　and　As)　in　agricultural　soil　and　grains　in　a　high　incidence　area　of　gastric　cancer,　S　county　of　Hebei　province.　Potential　carcinogenic　risk　index　for　heavy　metals　in　grains　were　evaluated.　The　results　indicate　that　the　concentrations　of　Cr,　Cd,　Pb　and　As　in　soils　were　36.44,　0.13,　28.01　and　13.72　mg/kg,　respectively;　and　2.372,　0.051,　0.494　and　0.026　mg/kg　in　grains,　respectively.　The　potential　carcinogenic　risk　index　of　Cr,　Pb　and　As　in　grain　exceeded　the　safety　limit　level　of　10-4　and　Cd　exceeded　the　acceptable　limit　level　of　10-6.　Therefore,　long-term　low　dose　exposure　of　heavy　metals　may　play　an　important　role　in　tumorigenesis　of　human　gastric　cancers.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.