Estimation of Arsenic Intake from Drinking Water and Food (Raw and Cooked) in a Rural Village of Northern Chile. Urine as a Biomarker of Recent Exposure

Oscar Pablo Diaz, Rafael Arcos, Yasna Tapia, Rubén Pastene, Dínoraz Velez, Vicenta Devesa, Rosa Montoro, Valeska Aguilera and Miriam Becerra
Additional contact information
Oscar Pablo Diaz: Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile, Av. Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9160000, Chile
Rafael Arcos: Ealth Service of Calama, Cobija 2188, Calama 1390000, Chile
Yasna Tapia: Faculty of Agricultural Science. University of Chile, Av. Santa Rosa 11315, La Pintana 8820000, Santiago, Chile
Rubén Pastene: Department of Chemistry of Materials, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile, Av. Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9160000, Chile
Dínoraz Velez: Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, CSIC. PO Box 73, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Vicenta Devesa: Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, CSIC. PO Box 73, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Rosa Montoro: Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, CSIC. PO Box 73, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
Valeska Aguilera: Department of Geographical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Santiago of Chile, Av. Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9160000, Chile.
Miriam Becerra: Department of Geographical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Santiago of Chile, Av. Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Santiago 9160000, Chile.

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate both the contribution of drinking water and food (raw and cooked) to the total (t-As) and inorganic (i-As) arsenic intake and the exposure of inhabitants of Socaire, a rural village in Chile´s Antofagasta Region, by using urine as biomarker. The i-As intake from food and water was estimated using samples collected between November 2008 and September 2009. A 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was given to 20 participants. Drinking water, food (raw and cooked) and urine samples were collected directly from the homes where the interviewees lived. The percentage of i-As/t-As in the drinking water that contributed to the total intake was variable (26.8–92.9). Cereals and vegetables are the food groups that contain higher concentrations of i-As. All of the participants interviewed exceeded the reference intake FAO/OMS (149.8 µg?i-As·day?1) by approximately nine times. The concentration of t-As in urine in each individual ranged from 78 to 459 ng·mL?1. Estimated As intake from drinking water and food was not associated with total urinary As concentration. The results show that both drinking water and food substantially contribute to i-As intake and an increased exposure risk to adult residents in contaminated areas.

Keywords: arsenic; endemic; area; drinking water; food; urine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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