Minamata disease was caused by contamination of the food chain (fish and shellfish) with:

• A Inorganic mercury from industrial effluent
• B Methylmercury biomagnified in marine organisms ✓
• C Cadmium from zinc smelting
• D Lead from contaminated groundwater

Explanation

Minamata disease (first identified in Minamata Bay, Japan, 1956) resulted from methylmercury discharged as industrial effluent by Chisso Corporation, which was then biomagnified through the aquatic food chain. Inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury by sulphate-reducing bacteria in sediments; methylmercury bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in fish and shellfish. Clinical features include cerebellar ataxia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, visual field constriction, and congenital Minamata disease (severe CNS damage in neonates born to exposed mothers). Itai-itai disease was caused by cadmium.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.