Question

Which one of the following is an environment related disorder with correct main cause?

• A. Black lung disease is found mainly in workers of stone quarries and crushers.
• B. Blue-baby disease is due to heavy use of nitrogeneous fertilizers.
• C. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is found mainly in worker involved in manufacture of neem-based pesticides.
• D. Skin cancer occurs mainly in people exposed to benzene and methane.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Blue-baby disease is due to heavy use of nitrogeneous fertilizers.

Pollution of groundwater from fertilizer N is caused by leaching. Two main alleged health hazards are blue baby disease of young babies and cancer due to nitrate ingestion in food and water. The nitrate is converted into nitrite in the intestine and then absorbed in the bloodstream. Young babies cannot detoxify this nitrite, which combine with haemoglobin to form inactive form methaemoglobin thus reducing the capacity of blood to carry oxygen. When the conversion of nitrate to nitrite exceeds 10%, blood is incapable of carrying oxygen and clinical symptoms such as gray or blue skin develop known as methaemoglobinaemia or blue baby syndrome. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis also known as black lung disease is caused by long exposure to coal dust. Skin cancer occurs mainly in people exposed to UV B radiation. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is found mainly in worker involved in manufacture of organophosphates pesticides or phenoxy herbicides.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.