What is ARSENIC? According to the United States Department of Labor: “Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment as an element of the earth's crust. Exposure to higher-than- average levels of arsenic occurs mainly in workplaces, near or in hazardous waste sites, and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks, and water. Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause death.”

You are a physician in a small community (about 1000 residents). Your is an old family in this area; your great- great-grandfather settled here in the 1800’s and was a famous officer in the Civil War. Several members of your family are buried in the local cemetery. Over the past couple of years a few members of the community have described to you their puzzling physical symptoms. Recently, a patient present you with similar but more serious complaints: weakness, tingling and numbness in his hands and feet, and dark warts on the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet.

You listen carefully as your patient responds to questions related to his medical history. He works in the small, local factory (Private Well #6) that produces wood preservatives. He has lived in the area for about ten years. He and his wife of ten months have a private well at their home. His wife has not exhibited similar symptoms. He quit smoking three years ago and does not drink alcoholic beverages. He takes no medications, only vitamins. You meet with members of the town council and express your suspicions-that the symptoms you have documented over the last few years are related to chronic arsenic poisoning from contaminated drinking water. You advise them that the accepted level of arsenic in drinking water is 50 parts per billion (ppb). The town council votes to budge money for ground water testing that will initially be limited to wells already in existence.

1. On the TOP RIGHT-HAND corner write “HIGH.” This is the highest elevation in town. 2. On the BOTTOM LEFT-HAND corner write “LOW.” This is the lowest elevation in town. 3. Which way will the ground water move? Draw an arrow to show this. 4. Plot the CONTAMINATION LEVELS (listed on the right side of map) next to the private well. 5. When you think you know which is the source of the pollution raise your hand.

With your partner answer these questions: What should your town do with this information? What options should the factory be given? This factory is a major employer of people in your community. Will this situation affect your discussions with the factory owners?

The factory owner was contacted by the mayor, and she has proven that her operation is not responsible for the arsenic contamination. All arsenic coming into and leaving the factory has been accounted for.

Join another partner team and discuss what should now be done. The city has budgeted additional funds and has commissioned a water quality testing agency to locate the source. This agency drilled test wells to test the factory and other sites. In your team, you will try to locate the source of the arsenic first.

Each team will get a turn to choice a data point. The contamination level will be revealed. Plot this number in the corresponding location on your map. When your team thinks they know where the source of the arsenic is, raise your hand. B12B6 E12E6 G12G6 I12I6 B10B4 E10E4 G10G4 I10I4 B8B2 E8E2 G8G2 I8I2

Where was the high concentration of arsenic located and what could have been the cause? From , arsenic was widely used as an embalming fluid that preserved the bodied of thousands of dead soldiers during the American Civil War. Arsenic was a major ingredient, because the only alternative was ice, it was considered a major advancement and used throughout the country. People were buried in wooden coffins or metal containers that degrade over time. Arsenic does not degrade. As water moves downward through the soils of cemeteries, it can carry arsenic though the ground water.

What should community members do now that the source of contamination has been identified? What other issues could be associated with the cemeteries? “Past solutions sometimes become present problems.” What are some other examples?

Why didn’t the patient’s wife exhibit similar symptoms? The physician maintained that he has seen a few similar cases. Why wasn’t arsenic poisoning immediately identified as the cause?