Question

Assertion : Methyl mercury is a highly persistent pollutant that accumulates in food chains.

Reason : Mercury pollution is responsible for minamata.

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is not correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A and R are false

Answer 1

Correct option (b) 

Explanation :

Mercury is an important toxic pollutant. It is changed to water soluble dimethyl mercury which undergoes biomagnification, i.e., accumulates in the body of organisms inhabiting in the water. Eating poisoned animals causes deformity known as minamata disease which is characterized by diarrhoea, impairment of various senses, numbness of lips, blurring of vision, mental dearrangement and death.