Objective To assess the risk of cadmium exposure through vegetables in Shenzhen, and to analyze the main causes and possible control measures. Methods The content of cadmium in vegetables was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Based on the data of vegetable consumption in Shenzhen in 2008 and the data of cadmium pollution in vegetables in Shenzhen from 2015 to 2016, the @risk software was applied to simulate and analyze the exposure for Shenzhen residents through vegetables.The main causes of cadmium exposure were analyzed by regression analysis, and the possible control measures were explored by stress analysis. Results 95% of Shenzhen citizens were exposed to cadmium by vegetables less than 0.296 6 μg/kg BW.Assuming 14% of the total dietary cadmium intake were from vegetables, 18.20% of the Shenzhen residents were exposed to cadmium through vegetables beyond the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI) value suggested by WHO.The cadmium pollution level and the consumption of leafy vegetables were the most important factors affecting the exposure of cadmium through vegetables.By controlling cadmium contamination in leafy vegetables within 80% of the existing pollution level, the total exposure of cadmium through vegetables would decrease by 35.58% in mean value and 40.19% in P95, and the proportion of people with cadmium intake above PTMI would reduce to 10.50%. Conclusion The exposure level of Shenzhen residents to cadmium through vegetables was a relatively high risk. By controlling cadmium pollution in leafy vegetables, the risk of cadmium exposure through vegetables could be reduced.