Environmental Issues

Minamata disease is caused due to mercury. Mercury, is changed to water soluble dimethyl, mercury, which undergoes biomagnification. This disease is characterized by diarrhoea, haemolysis, impairment of various senses numbness of lips tongue, limbs etc.

Cadmium (Cd) poisoning leads to itai- itai. (ouch-ouch) disease. Cadmium consumption causes diarrhoea, bone deformation, kidney damage, retarded growth, CNS injury etc. Mercury (Hg) poisoning causes Minamata disease, lead (Pb) consumption causes damage to liver, head, kidneys and reduction in haemoglobin formation, while black-foot disease is caused by chronic exposure to arsenic.

Itai-Itai (ouch-ouch disease) is due to Cd poisoning in the drinking water result into skeletal deformity.

Rio convention relates to biodiversity, climatic change and desertification.