Ten dietary samples from each groups of residents in three cadmium- polluted areas and three control areas in Japan were analyzed to assess the daily intake of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The analysis disclosed that the daily Cd and Cu come chiefly from the rice and that the daily Pb and Zn come from the other food source in the everyday diet. Intake of heavy metals in man is highly dependent upon the geographical characteristics of the residing area. The Cd-polluted area residents take two to three times larger amounts of Cd than the control area residents and relatively larger amounts of Pb and Zn, and equal amount of Cu as compared to the control area residents. The daily intake of the four heavy metals in the control group showed similar values to those earlier reported.