Question

Drinking mineral water with a very low level of pesticides (about 0.02 ppm) for long periods may
a. Produce immunity against mosquito
b. Cause leukemia (blood cancer) in most people
c. Cause cancer of the intestine
d. Lead to the accumulation of pesticide residues in body fat

Answer 1

Hint: Pesticides are the chemical compounds that are being used to kill pests such as insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants that are not supposed to grow with other plants. Pesticides are majorly used to kill disease-causing organisms such as mosquitoes in public.

Complete answer:
Are pesticides harmful to humans? Let’s look into that. Pesticides by their nature are toxic to other organisms as well as humans. We use pesticides to kill other organisms without thinking that it will be harmful to us as well. Pesticides need to be used safely and carefully. Cheaper pesticides such as DDT and lindane can remain in soil and water for years. And they can harm the ecosystem and get involved with the food chain.

Now let’s see what will happen if we drink water with 0.02 concentrated pesticides for a long period. Pesticides cause chronic cancer and other tumors. It can damage the brain and nervous system as well as infertility and other birth defects. Consumption of pesticides affects the whole body as it is toxic. In India, the chronic use of pesticides leads to the accumulation of pesticides in fat cells. Ddt is the most common pesticide being used in India. These pesticides can not be degraded easily by our bodies and get accumulated in fat. This process is called biochemical concentration.

Hence, the correct answer is option (d).

Note: People who are directly involved with pesticides or work with it are at higher risk of adverse health effects such as agricultural workers. One can avoid getting in contact with pesticides by not visiting the areas contaminated by pesticides.