AIIMS 2009
- Exam
- AIIMS
- Year
- 2009
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Environmental Issues
AIIMS 2009 · Botany · Environmental Issues
Assertion : Excess of nitrates in drinking water are harmful for...
Assertion : Excess of nitrates in drinking water are harmful for infants.
Reason : Nitrates are responsible for blue baby syndrome.
Options
- AIf both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
- BIf both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
- CIf assertion is true but reason is false
- DIf both assertion and reason are false.
Correct answer
B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
Step-by-step solution
Excess of nitrates in drinking water are harmful for human health and may be fatal for infants. Excessive use of fertilizers often leads to accumulations of nitrates in water. In infants excess nitrate reacts with haemoglobin to form nonfunctional methaemoglobin that impairs oxygen transport. This condition is termed as methaemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome. The disease can damage respiratory and vascular systems and even cause suffocation.