A new HPLC method was developed for the determination of 16 carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) which are monitored by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency(EPA),in the extracts from coal tar pitch(CTP) with toluene.The separation of 16 analytes was performed on an Agilent PAHs chromatographic column,using acetonitrile-water with different ratios as mobile phase by gradient elution.The elute from the column was detected with ultraviolet detector.The linear range of the method was in the range of 0.5-20 mg/L,and the recoveries of 16 PAHs were in the range of 83.7%-98.9% with relative standard deviations(RSDs) less than 2%.The method was applied in the detection of 16 PAHs in two sources of CTPs .The results showed that the contents of 16 carcinogenic PAHs in two CTPs were 107.89 g/kg and 103.04 g/kg,and the benzo［a］pyrene contents in two CTPs were 11.86 g/kg and 13.85 g/kg,respectively.Experiments showed that this method could be applied in the determination of 16 carcinogenic PAHs in different kinds of CTPs with satisfactory results.