Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the status of cadmium contamination in edible aquatic products in Guangdong Province and assess the dietary exposure level of cadmium.MethodsBy using simple random sampling method, 60 various edible aquatic products were collected from each 21 prefectural cities and Shunde District, Foshan City of Guangdong Province. Based on the survey data of aquatic products consumed by residents in Guangdong Province, the method of point assessment was applied to evaluate the level of exposure to cadmium in edible aquatic products. The results were compared and evaluated with the provisional tolerable monthly intake for cadmium recommended by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.ResultsA total of 1 325 samples were analyzed and the total exceeding standard rate was 5.4% (71/1 325). The average ranges of cadmium content in different edible aquatic products were 0.003 6 - 0.587 2 mg/kg and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). The average and P＜97.5 intake levels of edible aquatic products were 51.6 and 185.6 g/d separately consumed by Guangdong residents, then the average and P＜97.5 exposure doses of cadmium from edible aquatic products were 0.99 and 7.75 μg/d, respectively. The daily average exposure contribution rate of shellfish was 40.4%, the highest among the edible aquatic products. The monthly assessed intake amounts of cadmium associated with edible aquatic products calculated from daily average and P＜97.5 exposure doses accounted for 2.0% and 15.5% of provisional tolerable monthly intake for cadmium, respectively.ConclusionThe content of cadmium in edible aquatic products exceeded the standard in Guangdong Province, but the dietary exposure levels of residents were far below the value of health-based guidance. The dietary level of exposure to cadmium in edible aquatic products may not pose a health risk according to the assessment.