title: Vegetables collected in the cultivated Andean area of northern Chile: total and inorganic arsenic contents in raw vegetables.
abstract: High levels of arsenic are found in the soil and water of the Second Region in Chile as a result of natural causes. Total and inorganic arsenic contents were analyzed in the edible part of 16 agricultural products (roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences, and fruits) grown in this area. The total arsenic contents varied in the range 0.008-0.604 microg g(-1) of wet weight (ww), below the maximum level allowed by Chilean legislation (1 microg(-1) of ww). Inorganic arsenic contents (range = 0.008-0.613 microg(-1) of ww) represented between 28 and 114% of total arsenic. The concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic found in edible roots and leaves were higher than those found in fruit. The highest concentrations were found in a sample of spinach. High quantities of this vegetable would have to be consumed (250 g/day) to reach the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake for inorganic arsenic. The vegetable group may make a considerable contribution to the total intake of inorganic arsenic.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios en Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago de Chile, 33074 Correo 33, Chile.
authors.forename: Ociel
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Oscar Pablo
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leyton
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Vicenta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Devesa
authors.forename: Maria Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Súñer
authors.forename: Dinoraz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vélez
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montoro
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D002677:Chile; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001151:Arsenic