Abstract: Objective To investigate the contamination levels of anthraquinone (9,10-anthraquinone as representative) in tea for sale in border areas in China, and to assess the exposure level and health risk of anthraquinone for residents. Methods The content of anthraquinone (9,10-anthraquinone as representative) in tea for sale in border areas samples was determined by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Based on food safety risk monitoring data of 9,10-anthraquinone in tea for sale in border areas from 2016 to 2017, and combined with the consumption data of tea for sale in border areas for residents in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Qinghai Province, the exposure level of residents to anthraquinone through the consumption of tea for sale in border areas were estimated by the Deterministic estimate methods. The exposure results were compared with the acceptable daily intake (ADI: 6.8 μg/kg BW). Results Among 141 tea for sale in border areas samples, the detection rate was 75.18%, and the average content was 0.0292 mg/kg. Up to now, the limit standard for anthraquinone has not yet been set in China. According to the maximum residue levels (MRLs）of anthraquinone in tea at 0.02 mg/kg set by European Union (EU) No 1146/2014. The total over-standard rate was 57.45%. In addition, the over-standard rate of stereotyped packaging and bulk packaging was 64.63% and 47.46%, respectively. The results of the deterministic evaluation show that the average daily exposure of anthraquinone from tea for sale in border areas of the whole population in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Qinghai Province in China was 9.37×10-4 μg/kg BW, 0.0138% of the ADI. And the high consumer exposure (95th percentile, P95) was 3.12×10-3 μg/kg BW, 0.0459% of the ADI. Among the different sex-age groups, the average daily exposure and P95 daily exposure of women in the age group of 45-59 years were the highest, which were 1.41×10-3 and 6.16×10-3 μg/kg BW, respectively. But neither exceeded the ADI. Conclusion The results of the exposure assessment showed that the health risk for the residents of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Qinghai Province due to dietary exposure to anthraquinone through tea for sale in border areas was low and at an acceptable level. And anthraquinone contamination is prevalent in tea for sale in border areas, it is necessary to identify the source of anthraquinone residue and some effective measures should be taken to control it. In addition, to respond positively to the limits of anthraquinone content in tea from China exported to the EU and other countries, it is recommended that the relevant authorities should study reasonable limits for anthraquinone in tea as soon as possible.