To　investigate　the　sources　and　spatial　distribution　of　heavy　metals　in　soil,　samples　were　collected　at　two　scales　from　the　alluvial　plains　of　Shenyang,　China.　Statistical　analysis　at　small　scale　showed　average　concentrations　of　Cu,　Pb,　Zn,　Ni,　Cr　and　As　of　36.76,　33.33,　100.06,　37.98,　91.26,　and　7.99　mg/kg,　respectively.　Corresponding　large-scale　concentrations　were　34.11,　46.38,　82.44,　32.51,　83.77,　and　24.06　mg/kg.　At　both　scales,　Ni　and　Cr　were　mainly　controlled　by　parent　materials　and　Pb　by　anthropogenic　activities.　The　main　sources　of　Cu,　Zn　and　As　varied　with　scale.　To　describe　the　spatial　structure　of　heavy　metals,　geostatistical　analysis　and　geographic　information　systems　were　used　to　visualize　and　compare　levels　in　different　areas　at　both　scales.　The　samples　at　small　scales　were　located　in　the　region　of　strong　variation　at　large　scale,　indicating　that　the　sampling　strategy　is　appropriate　for　obtaining　more　reliable　interpolation　results.　Health　risk　assessment　based　on　95th　percentile　concentrations　of　total　elemental　concentrations　indicated　that　noncancer　effect　and　cancer　effect　of　children　and　adults　were　acceptable　at　the　two　different　scales.