Question

The ‘blue baby’ syndrome is related to:
A. Excess of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
B. Excess of Chloride
C. Methaemoglobin
D. Excess of dissolved oxygen

Answer 1

Hint: After a baby drinks formula made containing nitrate-rich water, the body transforms the nitrates into nitrites. These nitrites attach to the hemoglobin in the body, forming methemoglobin, which is unable to carry oxygen to the heart.

Complete answer: The blue baby syndrome is a disease commonly occurring in the newborn babies.
The blue baby syndrome is also referred to as the methemoglobin.
It is caused due to the consumption of contaminated drinking water that is water rich in the nitrates.
Thereby, in the light of the above statement, we can eliminate all other options including the excess of TDS, chloride, dissolved oxygen.

Additional information: Blue baby syndrome as the name reflects it is commonly found in the babies and in which the color of the skin turns to blue which is due to the decreased concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.
The babies can also show various other symptoms like-
1. Vomiting
2. Diarrhea
3. Trouble in breathing
4. Lethargy
5. Increased Salivation
6. Loss of consciousness
7. Tremors.
Hemoglobin is an important component of the blood that helps in the distribution of the oxygen to the blood tissues but with decreased concentration of hemoglobin the color of the skin starts changing.
The disease is very commonly found in the children living in the nearby areas of industries.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is Option C. Methemoglobin.

Note: The symptoms of methemoglobin include Vomiting, Diarrhea, lethargy, tremors, blue-colored skin, loss of consciousness, etc.
The nitrate concentration of the water that has the potential to cause blue baby syndrome lies in the range of 22.9 – 27.4 mg/L.