Which of the following statements are correct ?
(i) Benzene hexachloride (BHC) is a non-biodegradable pollutant.
(ii) Anthropogenic air pollutants are natural in origin.
(iii) Carbon monoxide is a primary air pollutant.
(iv) Sulphur dioxide causes brown air effect during traffic congestion in cities.

Options

A. (i) and (iii)
B. (i) and (ii)
C. (ii) and (iii)
D. (ii) and (iv)

Explanation

To determine which statements are correct, let's analyze each statement step by step:

**Step 1: Analyze Statement (i)**
- Statement: Benzene hexachloride (BHC) is a non-biodegradable pollutant.
- Explanation: Benzene hexachloride (BHC) is indeed a chemical compound that does not break down easily in the environment. It is resistant to microbial degradation, which makes it a non-biodegradable pollutant.
- Conclusion: This statement is **correct**.

**Step 2: Analyze Statement (ii)**
- Statement: Anthropogenic air pollutants are natural in origin.
- Explanation: Anthropogenic air pollutants are those that result from human activities, such as industrial processes, vehicle emissions, and burning fossil fuels. They are not natural; rather, they are man-made.
- Conclusion: This statement is **incorrect**.

**Step 3: Analyze Statement (iii)**
- Statement: Carbon monoxide is a primary air pollutant.
- Explanation: Carbon monoxide (CO) is released directly into the atmosphere from sources like vehicle exhaust and industrial processes. It is classified as a primary air pollutant because it is emitted directly from these sources.
- Conclusion: This statement is **correct**.

**Step 4: Analyze Statement (iv)**
- Statement: Sulphur dioxide causes brown air effect during traffic congestion in cities.
- Explanation: The brown air effect is primarily associated with nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, not sulphur dioxide. Sulphur dioxide is mainly produced from the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes, and it contributes to acid rain rather than the brown air effect.
- Conclusion: This statement is **incorrect**.

**Final Conclusion:**
Based on the analysis:
- Statement (i) is correct.
- Statement (ii) is incorrect.
- Statement (iii) is correct.
- Statement (iv) is incorrect.

The correct statements are (i) and (iii). Therefore, the correct answer is **Option 1**.

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