25 JUNE FS Q.50
0. Blue - baby syndrome can happen due to excess of which component in water?
- Option : C
- Explanation : Blue Baby Syndrome , or methemogiobinemia,
begins when large amounts of nitrates in water
are ingested by an infant and converted to
nitrite by the digestive system. The nitrite
then reacts with oxyhemoglobin (the oxygen-
carrying blood protein) to form metheglobin,
which cannot carry oxygen.
If a large enough amount of metheglobin is formed in the blood, body tissues may be deprived of oxygen, causing the infant to develop a blue coloration of their mucous membranes and possibly digestive and respiratory problems. This condition is also known as methemoglobinemia. The majority of cases have occurred when nitrate levels have been over 100 mg/litre.
