Minamata disease is caused by chronic exposure to which environmental pollutant through consumption of contaminated fish?
- A Inorganic arsenic
- B Lead tetraethyl
- C Methyl mercury ✓
- D Cadmium
Correct answer: C. Methyl mercury
Explanation
Minamata disease (first described in Minamata Bay, Japan, 1956) is caused by chronic ingestion of methyl mercury-contaminated fish and shellfish. Industrial discharge of inorganic mercury into Minamata Bay was converted to methyl mercury by anaerobic bacteria, which bioaccumulated and biomagnified up the food chain. Clinical features include cerebellar ataxia, sensory neuropathy, constriction of visual fields, and hearing loss (Hunter-Russell syndrome). Itai-Itai disease is caused by cadmium; arsenicosis by arsenic; lead encephalopathy by lead.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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