Assertion: Excess of nitrates in drinking water are harmful for infants.
Reason: Nitrates are responsible for blue baby syndrome.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
Explanation:
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. This disease can damage respiratory and vascular systems and even cause suffocation.
Natural water contains H2o. This is molecular formula for water. Basically excess of nitrates present in the drinking water will harmful to infants and also other age group people. So better to avoid drinking water that contains excess of nitrates.