Question

Minamata and itai itai disease are due to toxicity of
(a)Mercury and tin
(b)Mercury and cadmium
(c)Mercury and lead
(d)Mercury and strontium

Answer 1

Hint: Minamata is a neurological disease that causes ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, and general muscle weakness including impairment of visual and auditory senses. Itai-Itai disease is a disease in which there is a severe pain felt in the spine and joints of the body.

Complete answer:
 Minamata and Itai Itai disease are due to the toxicity of mercury and cadmium respectively. The Minamata disease which is also known as Chisso-Minamata disease is caused by severe mercury poisoning which can lead to insanity, paralysis, coma, and even death within weeks after the first symptoms are seen. It is said to affect fetuses congenitally. Itai Itai disease is named after the Japanese word “itai” which means “it hurts” to refer to the intense pain felt by people during this cadmium poisoning. It was first seen in the Toyama Prefecture in Japan and is known to cause severe pains in the spine and joints along with bone and kidney failure.

Additional Information:
 Let us know more about the diseases Minamata and Itai itai.
-Minamata disease was first discovered in the city of Minamata in 1956 because of the release of methylmercury from industrial wastewater.
-This industrial water was released by a chemical factory known as Chisso Corporation.
-The mercury got bio accumulated in shellfish in Minamata Bay which when eaten by local people led to mass-scale mercury poisoning.
-The cadmium poisoning seen in Itai Itai disease happened because large quantities of cadmium were released into the rivers by mining companies of the Toyama Prefecture.
-This cadmium was absorbed by rice which was irrigated with this river water.
-Thus, causing cadmium poisoning in all those who ate this contaminated rice.
So, the correct option is ‘Mercury and cadmium’.

Note:
 -A second outbreak of the Minamata disease was seen in the minamata prefecture in 1965.
-Cadmium caused large damages to the mitochondria of the kidney cells.
-Cadmium also caused weak and brittle bones due to improper calcium metabolism.