Environmental health: heavy metal pollution: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Environmental health: heavy metal pollution

Sample item

Elderly women living downstream of a zinc mine, who eat rice irrigated with polluted river water, develop severe bone pain, multiple fractures and renal tubular dysfunction. Which pollutant is responsible?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cadmium

Itai-itai disease in Japan resulted from cadmium contamination of rice from mine effluent, causing osteomalacia, fractures and proximal tubular damage. Methylmercury caused Minamata disease through fish. Lead and arsenic cause different syndromes.

Option by option

  • A. Methylmercury

    Methylmercury produces neurological disease such as Minamata disease.

  • B. Arsenic

    Arsenic causes skin changes, neuropathy and cancers.

  • C. Cadmium (correct)

    Correct. Cadmium causes renal tubular damage and bone disease.

  • D. Lead

    Lead causes anaemia, colic and neuropathy rather than renal tubular bone disease.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Cadmium. Itai-itai disease in Japan resulted from cadmium contamination of rice from mine effluent, causing osteomalacia, fractures and proximal tubular damage.

Why is "Methylmercury" not the answer?

Methylmercury produces neurological disease such as Minamata disease.

Why is "Arsenic" not the answer?

Arsenic causes skin changes, neuropathy and cancers.

Why is "Lead" not the answer?

Lead causes anaemia, colic and neuropathy rather than renal tubular bone disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: heavy metal pollution in PSM. Methylmercury caused Minamata disease through fish. Lead and arsenic cause different syndromes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Environmental health: heavy metal pollution?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.