WBCS.LIVE practice question

The devastating 'Minamata disease' in Japan was directly caused by severe industrial pollution of which heavy metal?

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Mercury
  2. Arsenic
  3. Cadmium
  4. Lead

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Mercury

Explanation: āœ… Correct Answer: A) Mercury šŸ“š Explanation: Minamata disease is a severe, crippling neurological syndrome caused entirely by acute methylmercury poisoning. It was first discovered in Minamata city, Japan, in 1956. A massive chemical factory continuously dumped heavily untreated wastewater containing highly toxic mercury directly into the bay, which rapidly accumulated in the local fish and shellfish consumed by the population.