Abstract: Rice, vegetable, pork meat,  and drinking water were sampled from Guizhou mercury (Hg) mining areas to analyze their total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations. All the samples had higher concentration T-Hg, but only rice accumulated methylmercury (Me-Hg). The average intake of Me-Hg through rice consumption by the residents in three villages of Wanshan Hg mining area occupied 97.5%, 94.1%, and 93.5% of the total Me-Hg intake, respectively, and the Me-Hg intake from rice per resident per day had significant relationship with the Me-Hg level of hair, suggesting that rice consumption was the main route of Me-Hg exposure for the local residents in Guizhou Hg mining areas. The T-Hg concentration in the hairs of artisanal mining workers was significantly higher than that of the common people and control group, and the proportion of Me-Hg to T-Hg in the hairs of the common people and control group was only 12.4% on average, illustrating the impact of Hg vapor from artisanal mining activities. Comparing with control group, the residents in Guizhou Hg mining areas had a higher Me-Hg concentration in their hairs. The daily Me-Hg intake through rice consumption by parts of the residents in Guizhou Hg mining areas exceeded the JECFA-recommended value (0.23 μg·d^-1·kg^-1), and that for a majority of the residents exceeded the USEPA-recommended value (0.10 μg·d^-1·kg^-1). The residents in Gouxi and Laowuchang of Tongren areas were at a health risk of Me-Hg exposure through rice consumption, and those in other Hg mining areas were at a potential risk of Me-Hg exposure.

Key words: Trifolium repens, Cutting, Energy allocation, Architecture