Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?
- Arsenic
- Sorbitol
- Fluoride
- Formaldehyde
- Uranium
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Arsenic (1) – Correct: Found in groundwater of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand due to natural leaching from arsenic-bearing rocks; causes arsenicosis and skin lesions.
❌ Sorbitol (2) – Incorrect: A sugar alcohol used as artificial sweetener and humectant; not a naturally occurring groundwater pollutant in India.
✅ Fluoride (3) – Correct: Endemic in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana and other states; causes dental and skeletal fluorosis from geological sources.
❌ Formaldehyde (4) – Incorrect: An industrial chemical and disinfectant; not a common groundwater contaminant in Indian drinking water systems.
✅ Uranium (5) – Correct: Detected in groundwater of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and parts of southern India; leaches from uranium-bearing granitic rocks.
Question 8 of 9 Water Pollution
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