Minamata disease is due to pollution of

Options

A. Organic waste into drinking water
B. Oil spill in water
C. Industrial waste mercury into fishing water
D. Arsenic into the atmosphere

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Minamata Disease**: Minamata disease is primarily caused by methylmercury poisoning. It is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system, leading to various symptoms.

2. **Identifying the Cause**: The disease is linked to the consumption of fish contaminated with methylmercury. This contamination occurs when industrial waste, specifically mercury, is discharged into water bodies.

3. **Historical Context**: The disease was first identified in Minamata Bay, Japan, where industrial activities led to mercury pollution. Fish in the bay accumulated high levels of mercury, which then entered the human food chain when people consumed the contaminated fish.

4. **Symptoms of Minamata Disease**: Common symptoms include numbness in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, and deterioration of hearing and speech. These symptoms arise due to the damage caused to nerve cells by methylmercury.

5. **Analyzing the Options**:
- Option A (Organic waste into drinking water): Incorrect, as this does not relate to Minamata disease.
- Option B (Oil spill in water): Incorrect, as this is not the cause of Minamata disease.
- Option C (Industrial waste mercury into fishing water): Correct, as this is the direct cause of the disease.
- Option D (Arsenic in the atmosphere): Incorrect, as this is unrelated to Minamata disease.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct answer is that Minamata disease is due to pollution of industrial waste mercury into fishing water.

**Final Answer**: c. Industrial waste mercury into fishing water.

---