Abstract: In order to understand the human health risk from heavy metals of soils and crops in the Lower Cambrian black shale area, Zunyi, Guizhou Province in China, the concentrations of the heavy metals in the soils and crops collected from the area were analyzed. Meanwhile, the pollution level, and the health risk of the heavy metals were evaluated using thesingle factor index method, Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIP) and health risk index, respectively. Through the evaluation, this study identified the main contaminants in the soils and crops and the major exposure pathway of the metals. The results show that the averaged concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn in the soils are significantly higher than the corresponding background values of these elements in the soil of Guizhou Province, and are also higher than the limits of Soil Environmental Quality Risk Control Standard for Soil Contamination of Agricultural Land (GB 15168-2018), respectively. Cr, Ni and Zn in rice, Cr and Pb in maize, and Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb in sweet potato exceed the limits of relevant standards in China, respectively. Furthermore, the Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb in Chinese cabbage, radish, and pepper exceed the limit standards of China. The calculated Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIP) indicates that the integrated contamination levels of the heavy metals in upland and paddy soils are moderate and high, respectively. For crops, the exceeding standard levels of heavy metals in rice, maize, sweet potato, Chinese cabbage, radish, and pepper are all high, and their NIP values are 10.7, 8.99, 36.9, 10.4, 11.4 and 26.1 respectively. The health risk assessment results show that the total hazard index (HI) of heavy metals of soils and crops caused by the consumption of corps, oral intake and dermal absorptionby adults and children are 10.2 and 25.7, respectively. The relative contribution of various heavy metals to the total HI value follows an order of Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni > Zn > Cu. Under the exposure pathway of oral intake and dermal absorption, Cd and Cr in soils pose acceptable carcinogenic health risks to adults and children, while Ni leads to certain carcinogenic health risks. The study shows that a certain degree of non-carcinogenic health risks have occurred to local residents due to the integrated pollution of heavy metals in soils and crops in the Lower Cambrian black shale area, Zunyi, Guizhou Province in China. Consuming crops is the major exposure pathway of the six heavy metals to the residents. Cr, Pb and Cd in rice and Chinese cabbage are the main risk sources and pollutants.