Total and inorganic As contents of cooked vegetables obtained from an arsenic endemic area of
Chile were analyzed. Inorganic As intake from those foods, bread, and water was estimated. Thestudy was performed in two different periods, in which the water used by the population for drinkingand cooking purposes contained 0.572 (first period) or 0.041
g mL
-1 (second period). In the firstperiod, the FAO/WHO reference intake was exceeded by all of the persons interviewed. In the secondperiod, the reference intake was exceeded by all of the persons interviewed ages 13-15. The foodsstudied contributed 4% (first period) or 25% (second period) of the inorganic As intake. The resultsshow the contribution of food to inorganic As intake and the risk to which those ages 15 or youngerare exposed.Keywords: Arsenic; inorganic arsenic; vegetables; cooking; Chile; intake