Arsenic Poisoning Is a Serious Problem in Bangladesh, China, and Chile

Multiple Choice

Arsenic poisoning is a serious problem in Bangladesh, China, and Chile, resulting from contaminated well water. When arsenic poisoning occurs, arsenic binds to proteins and eventually causes cellular damage. This leads to a variety of symptoms in humans including exhaustion, muscle weakness, organ failure, and cancer. Arsenic poisoning is commonly treated with a drug called dimercaprol (or BAL) that binds arsenic. This process sets up a competing equilibrium within the body. Once arsenic reacts to form a complex with BAL, it can be excreted from the body. How does excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex affect the equilibrium shown below? Arsenic-protein complex Arsenic + proteins + BAL Arsenic-BAL

A) Excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex does not affect the equilibrium.
B) Excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex causes less of the complex to be made.
C) Excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex causes more arsenic-protein complex to be made.
D) Excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex causes the equilibrium to shift to the right.
E) Excretion of the arsenic-BAL complex causes the equilibrium to shift to the left.