Given below are two statements: Statement I: Dioxins and Furans are highly…
2023
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Dioxins and Furans are highly toxic substances produced as by-products of solid waste incineration.
Statement II: Dioxins and Furans are very unstable and short-lived once they are released in the atmosphere.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Answer: C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect — ConceptPersistent organic pollutants resist environmental degradation, remain in ecosystems for long periods, and can travel beyond their source.…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
- C.
Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
- D.
Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
Persistent organic pollutants resist environmental degradation, remain in ecosystems for long periods, and can travel beyond their source.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans are unintended products of some combustion processes and are assessed together because of their related chemistry and toxicity.
Application
In chlorine-containing combustion, especially incomplete or poorly controlled waste burning, dioxins and furans can form unintentionally as by-products. Their high toxic potential makes Statement I valid.
Their chlorinated structures are chemically stable and break down slowly. They are therefore persistent rather than very unstable and short-lived after atmospheric release, so Statement II is invalid.
Cross-check and contrast
This combination assigns incineration by-product formation and rapid atmospheric degradation to the same substances. Chlorine-containing combustion can form PCDD/PCDF, while chemical stability slows their breakdown after release.
This combination rejects both incineration by-product formation and rapid atmospheric degradation. Waste combustion can generate PCDD/PCDF, while their persistence reflects slow environmental breakdown.
This combination rejects incineration by-product formation but assigns rapid atmospheric degradation. Incomplete chlorine-containing combustion can generate PCDD/PCDF, and their stable structures resist rapid breakdown.
The source test supports the incineration claim, while the persistence test rejects rapid environmental disappearance. The combination is therefore: Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect.