. Conclusions
Residents living near the mine waste heaps revealed significantly elevated blood Hg, Se and arsenic levels.
Rice samples in the study area showed high Se levels, and rice consumption contributed to 72.6% of the total Se intake. 80.2% of the study population had blood THg levels exceeding 5.8 μg/L set by USEPA, which indicated that the study populations were at risk of Hg exposure. The blood Se levels were within a safe level range, and dietary Se intake may protect local residents who suffer from Hg exposure.