Distribution of arsenic species in environmental samples collected in Northern Chile

Abstract

Gradient ion chromatographic separation coupled with ICP-MS was used to resolve and determine the most common arsenic species in environmental and biological samples of carrots, trout, soil, sediment and river water from Region II of Chile. The carrot and trout samples showed a concentration of 49 and 168 µg g−1, respectively, of total As. Both concentrations are high considering the basal level. In the carrots, percentage of 45 and 31% of total As were found for As(III) and As(V) species, respectively. In the trout, the higher concentration related to AsB at 39% of the total As. As(III) and DMA were also present in relatively high concentrations. The River Loa and the soil in which the carrots are growing also present very high As(V) concentrations of 100 and 17 µg g−1, respectively. The ratio between the concentration for the same As species found in the living organisms (carrots and trout) and the environment in which they grow (soil and water) can provide important information about the possible absorption or biotransformation of As species in living beings. As(III) and DMA are the species in which the greatest accumulation occurs with respect to the medium in which they are present, and biotransformation also appears to take place.