Abstract: To investigate the pollution characteristics and human health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during heating and non-heating periods in Shijiazhuang, PM_2.5 samples are collected during 10—16 of every month from 2017 to 2019 in Shijiazhuang. 16 priority PAHs associated with fine particulate matter are identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations and composition characteristics of the PAHs in heating and non-heating periods are analyzed. Diagnostic ratio analysis and principal component analysis are used to identify the emission sources of PM_2.5-bound PAHs, and an incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model and the loss of life (LL) expectancy are applied to evaluate the health risks. The results show that the mean concentrations of PM_2.5 and PAHs are 106.00 μg/m³ and 44.17 ng/m³ during the heating period, and 73.00 μg/m³ and 40.17 ng/m³ during non-heating period, respectively. The concentration of BaP is the highest, followed by that of BkF, BbF and Chry. PAHs of high ring numbers are more carcinogenic than those of low ring numbers, and the proportions of PAHs with different ring numbers in the heating period is different from that during the non-heating period, i.e., 4 rings >5 rings >2—3 rings >6 rings in the heating period, while in the non-heating period from high to low are 5, 4, 6, and 2—3 rings. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis indicate that coal combustion is the main source of PM_2.5 in the heating period, and traffic emission plays an important role in the non-heating period. ILCR and LL in the non-heating period are higher than that in the heating period. ILCR and LL rank from high to low for adults, teenagers and children. The ILCR range of PAHs in the entire population is 10⁻⁶—10⁻⁴, indicating that the level of carcinogenic risk is potential in Shijiazhuang. The losses of life expectancy for male children, teenagers, and adults are 41.18, 54.72, and 110.42 min, respectively. The losses of expectancy for female children, teenagers, and adults are 42.93, 57.53, and 101.05 min, respectively. This study has shown that PM_2.5-bound PAHs have a potential carcinogenic risk in all populations, and attention should be paid to the loss of life expectancy caused by respiratory exposure to PAHs in Shijiazhuang.