Objective Industrial parks emit a large amount of volatile organic compounds VOCs which leads to atmospheric pollution and human health damage. In this paper typical industrial parks in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River were used as the study area to investigate the characteristics of VOCs pollution in typical industrial parks and the impact of VOCs pollution on human health risks. Methods Suma canisters were used to carry out continuous monitoring of VOCs at factory boundary points environmentally sensitive points and urban points in the park. The samples were analyzed and processed to obtain 108 VOCs substances. The variation characteristics of atmospheric VOCs were analyzed and the dominant species for ozone O3 generation and secondary organic aerosol contribution were identified. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of VOCs were evaluated using hazard quotient HQ and lifetime carcinogenic risk Risk . Results The mean mass concentrations of the total VOCs TVOCs for the first time at factory boundary points environmentally sensitive points and urban points were 843. 57 μg / m 3 321. 71 μg / m 3 and 149. 50 μg / m 3 respectively. All three sites showed a higher mean concentration of TVOCs at night than in the daytime. The values of ozone formation potential OFP at factory boundary points environmentally sensitive points and urban points were 4 507. 25 μg / m 3 1 271. 25 μg / m 3 and 321. 87 μg / m 3 respectively. Methyl methacrylate was the species with the largest contribution to the OFP value at the enterprise plant boundary point. The values of the secondary organic aerosol formation potential SOAP at the three sites were 710. 61 μg / m 3 545. 98 μg / m 3 and 209. 83 μg / m 3 respectively. Aromatic hydrocarbons were the component with the largest contribution to SOAP at these three sites. The average contribution of SOAP reached 88. 95%. The hazard indices at factory boundary points environmentally sensitive points and urban points were 0. 31 0. 19 and 0. 08 respectively and there was no non-carcinogenic risk at these three sites. In the carcinogenic risk evaluation the Risk values of benzene ethylbenzene and methylene chloride at these three sites were higher than the EPA acceptable level of 1×10 -6 . Conclusion In conclusion the pollution level of factory boundary points of enterprises in the park is higher than that of environmentally sensitive points and urban points and higher than that of other industrial parks. Aromatic hydrocarbons have the highest ability of secondary transformation at each site and toluene has the highest contribution. These three sites present potential carcinogenic risks to the exposed population and toluene benzene ethylbenzene and methylene chloride should be prioritized as controlled substances in each region