Environment & Ecology question from JKAS Prelims, 2023 by JKPSC
Consider the following pairs:
Pollutant Disaster/Effect
1. Mercury Itai-Itai Disease
2. Cadmium Pesticides
3. DDT Minamata Tragedy
4. Arsenic Fertilizers
How many pairs are correctly matched?
Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
Only one pair
Upon evaluating the pairs, only Pair 4 (Arsenic and its association with agricultural inputs/groundwater contamination) or the general context of chemical pollutants can be debated, but in the strict sense of classic environmental toxicology pairs, only one is grounded in standard textbooks, though even that is often simplified. Let's look at the correct matches for these famous pollutants:
Analysis of the Pairs
Mercury — Itai-Itai Disease (INCORRECT):
Mercury is actually responsible for Minamata Disease.
Itai-Itai (which means "it hurts, it hurts") is caused by Cadmium poisoning.
Cadmium — Pesticides (INCORRECT):
While cadmium can be a contaminant in some phosphate fertilizers, it is not the primary component of "pesticides."
As noted above, Cadmium is traditionally linked to Itai-Itai Disease, resulting from mining pollution in Japan.
DDT — Minamata Tragedy (INCORRECT):
DDT is a notorious pesticide (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) known for Biomagnification and thinning eggshells in birds.
The Minamata Tragedy was caused by the release of Methylmercury into industrial wastewater.
Arsenic — Fertilizers (CORRECT/MOST ACCURATE):
Arsenic is a common impurity found in rock phosphate used to manufacture Fertilizers. Over time, the use of these fertilizers leads to arsenic accumulation in agricultural soil and groundwater (often causing "Blackfoot disease" in humans).
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
