Read the passage and answer the questions:
Pollution
Water pollution is a source of various water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, intestinal worms, hepatitis. Air pollution also causes various diseases related to respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems. Smoky fog over cities called as urban smog is caused by atmospheric pollution. Rainwater analysis of urban environment has indicated that pH value of the first rain after summer is always lower than the subsequent rains. Urban waste disposal is a serious problem in India. In metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, etc., about 90 per cent of the solid waste is collected and disposed. But in most of other cities and towns in the country, about 30 to 50 per cent of the waste generated are left uncollected which accumulate on streets, in open spaces between houses and in wastelands leading to serious health hazards. These wastes should be treated as resource and utilised for generating energy and compost. Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release toxic biogas to the atmosphere, including methane. Based on the universal law ‘Polluter pays’ effort to restore the ecology and safeguard the human health with people’s participation has taken place in Daurala near Meerut. At national level the first major legislative provision to address pollution was the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1974 followed by Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Which of the following is NOT caused by water pollution?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Asthma
Option (1) Hepatitis — Caused by water pollution (Incorrect). It is one of the water-borne diseases spread by contaminated water.
Option (2) Diarrhoea — Caused by water pollution (Incorrect). It too is a common water-borne disease.
Option (3) Intestinal worms — Caused by water pollution (Incorrect). Like hepatitis and diarrhoea, they are part of the diseases spread by contaminated water.
Option (4) Asthma — Not caused by water pollution (Correct). Asthma is a disease of the breathing system. Air pollution causes diseases of the respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems, so asthma belongs with air pollution, not with water.
NCERT (2025-26): “Water Pollution … Water pollution is a source of various water- borne diseases. The diseases commonly caused due to contaminated water are diarrhoea, intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc. The World Health Organization shows that about one-fourth of the communicable diseases in India are water-borne.…” “Air Pollution … Air pollution causes various diseases related to respiratory, nervous and circulatory systems.” |