Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution :
- 1.Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.
- 2.Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution.
- 3.There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. Statement 1 is correct: artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest source of mercury emissions worldwide. Statement 2 is correct: coal burning in power plants releases mercury. Statement 3 is treated as wrong: health agencies set tolerable intake limits for mercury, so it is not described as having 'no known safe level' the way lead is. So only two.
Watch for: 'No known safe level' is the WHO phrase for lead; do not carry it over to mercury.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because both statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- C. Wrong because statement 3 is not accepted as correct.
- D. Wrong because gold mining and coal plants are known sources.
Source to check: UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2018; WHO fact sheet 'Mercury and health'; Minamata Convention on Mercury website
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.