Question: Which of the following diseases was caused due to the fish contamination with mercury?
Options:
Minamata Disease
Itai – Itai Disease
Yokkaichi asthma
Argyria
🔑 Key Points
Explanation:
→ Minamata disease is a neurological disorder caused by ingestion of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury. It was first identified in the 1950s in the city of Minamata in Japan.
→ The contamination occurred due to industrial discharge of methylmercury from a chemical plant owned by the Chisso Corporation, which accumulated in the aquatic food chain, with fish and shellfish having the highest concentrations.
→ Symptoms of Minamata disease include sensory disturbances, numbness, ataxia, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, neurological damage leading to paralysis, coma, and death. Fetuses exposed to methylmercury in utero can suffer from developmental abnormalities.
→ Itai-itai disease is caused by cadmium poisoning, not mercury contamination.
→ Yokkaichi asthma refers to air pollution-related asthma.
→ Argyria is a condition characterized by silver accumulation in the body due to colloidal silver ingestion.
Explanation:
→ Minamata disease is a neurological disorder caused by ingestion of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury, a toxic form of mercury. It was first identified in the 1950s in the city of Minamata in Japan.
→ The contamination occurred due to industrial discharge of methylmercury from a chemical plant owned by the Chisso Corporation, which accumulated in the aquatic food chain, with fish and shellfish having the highest concentrations.
→ Symptoms of Minamata disease include sensory disturbances, numbness, ataxia, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, neurological damage leading to paralysis, coma, and death. Fetuses exposed to methylmercury in utero can suffer from developmental abnormalities.
→ Itai-itai disease is caused by cadmium poisoning, not mercury contamination.
→ Yokkaichi asthma refers to air pollution-related asthma.
→ Argyria is a condition characterized by silver accumulation in the body due to colloidal silver ingestion.
📌 Important Points
→ Minamata disease is caused by methylmercury contamination from fish and shellfish, not from mercury pollution via air or silver accumulation.
📝 Additional Information:
→ Therefore, the correct answer is Minamata disease.