Question

Blue-baby syndrome is caused by
A. Cadmium pollution
B. Mercury poisoning
C. Chronic exposure to arsenic
D. Excess nitrate in drinking water
E. Excess fluoride in drinking water

Answer 1

Hint: Contaminated drinking water causes several health risks and transmitted bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases which spreads through polluted water. It is recommended to examine the quality of water on a regular basis in order to avoid its destructive health effects on humans as well as the environment.

Complete answer:
-Health risks due to cadmium pollution cause Itai Itai disease associated with severe damage to the liver and kidneys.
-High level of mercury poisoning leads to severe neurological problems that damage most of the parts of the body by causing Minamata disease.
-Long-term chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking-water and food potentially leads to cancer and skin lesions by creating severe toxic effects in the body.
Blue baby syndrome is a serious usually occurring to infants. This condition happens due to decreased oxygen and excess nitrate substance in the blood. It further results in lack of oxygen carrying capacity in haemoglobin due to nitrate contamination in groundwater inadvertently among babies which leads to coma or even death.
-Blue baby syndrome is a rare condition which causes the colour of skin around the mouth, hands, and feet to turn and appear in blue. This happens when infants consume formula milk which has been made with water contaminated with high levels of nitrate substances. This condition gives signaling that the child or a person is not getting enough oxygen due to increased nitrate in their blood.
As this condition normally occurs at birth, it is also called as infant methemoglobinemia, in which the baby’s skin turns blue due to excess of nitric acid or nitrate in drinking water which results in decreased oxygen in the blood carrying haemoglobin. If this syndrome is left untreated, then this condition creates complications and can be life-threatening.
-Excess of fluoride in drinking water can cause severe skeletal problems especially affect the dental areas.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: If the children don't get enough protein or other essential vitamins and minerals in their food then it leads to Kwashiorkor due to the lack or deficiency of protein in their diet. Such protein deficiency diseases occur commonly in most of the developing countries which struggle with limited food supply, poor hygiene, and a lack of education or awareness regarding the importance of giving an adequate nutrition rich diet to babies and children.