Gabriele is a 31-year-old native of Urban City, America. She is a sales associate at a store in the local mall, and her husband Charles is a 37-year-old welder at a local factory that assembles heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. They have been married for 5 years. They are both diabetic, and Gabriel’s husband is currently undergoing tests to evaluate him for possible bladder cancer.
Many years ago, there were nationwide news headlines about the poor water quality in her city. The headlines of new reports stated that the drinking water was contaminated with lead at an average concentration of 5 ppm. What the news reports did not mention is that the water also tested for arsenic concentrations of up to 12 ppm. Gabriele remembers being told not to drink the water from the house anymore. For a while, the government even supplied bottled water for the residents in her area. Over the years, the media news died down. The government has claimed to address the water problem and showed that they successfully removed the lead contamination from the drinking water, so everyone in her area resumed life as usual. Some time later, the free supply of bottled water stopped being offered, and people resumed drinking and cooking with the water from their faucets. The elevated arsenic level in the water supply was never addressed.
Based on the case study, prepare a case study report that answers the following questions:
1. Explain how arsenic from this scenario is processed in the body. Discuss factors that can affect toxicity.
2. Explain the symptoms and effects of long-term arsenic exposure.
3. Discuss the target organs and impact on these organs from arsenic toxicity.
