Shankar IAS Test: Environment Issues and Health Effects - UPSC MCQ

A study of the effects of released pollutants on the environment and on the biota that inhabit it. Eco-toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of pollutants on the environment and the organisms that inhabit it. This field of study helps to understand the damage caused by these pollutants and how they can be managed or mitigated.

Iodine-131 is produced by nuclear tests and can contaminate vegetation, which is then consumed by cattle, and can end up in the milk that humans consume. This radioactive isotope can cause damage to the thyroid gland, particularly in children, and can also be found in bones when ingested.

Lead. Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal that can cause a range of health problems in humans, particularly in children. Exposure to lead can result in liver and kidney damage, reduced hemoglobin production, mental retardation, and abnormalities in fertility and pregnancy.

Monomethyl mercury is the most common and toxic form of mercury found in water bodies. It can cause severe health problems, including fatal poisoning, in humans and animals that consume contaminated water or food.

Fluorine, in the form of fluoride, can cause a range of health problems in humans and animals when present in high concentrations in air, soil, and water. Symptoms include dental fluorosis, stiffness of joints, and knock-knee syndrome in humans, and staining, mottling, and abrasion of teeth, lameness, and decreased milk production in cattle.

DDT is a toxic pesticide that has been found to depress the activity of estrogen and testosterone, the female and male sex hormones, respectively. Its use has been banned in many countries due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health.

Lead is a heavy metal that is often present in paints, and when inhaled as dust, can cause lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can cause a variety of symptoms, including liver and kidney damage, reduction in hemoglobin formulation, mental retardation, and abnormality in fertility and pregnancy.

Trans Fats are formed during the process of hydrogenation of oils and are associated with a host of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. They are commonly found in processed foods, such as junk food and snacks, and should be avoided or consumed in limited quantities.

Caffeine is the primary substance responsible for the high caffeine content in energy drinks, which can cause a range of health problems. While manufacturers claim that the combination of caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, vitamins, herbal supplements, and sugar or sweeteners in energy drinks provides an energy boost, studies have shown that it is primarily the sugar content that provides the energy rush.

Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It was first discovered in Minamata city in Japan in 1956, where the release of methyl mercury in industrial wastewater from a chemical factory led to widespread contamination and poisoning.

Blue baby syndrome is caused by high nitrate contamination in groundwater, which results in a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in babies, leading to death.

Pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease, is caused by the deposit of coal dust in the lungs of coal miners. This can lead to a serious lung disease that affects the miners' ability to breathe.

Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. The inhalation of these fibers can cause scarring and inflammation of lung tissue, leading to difficulty breathing and other health problems.

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by the deposit of silica in the lungs of workers in silica industries or at sandblasting sites. The inhalation of silica particles can cause inflammation and scarring of lung tissue, leading to difficulty breathing and other health problems.

Sick building syndrome is a combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work or residence, often related to poor indoor air quality. Symptoms of SBS can include headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and respiratory problems, among others.