UPSC Prelims 2024 · Question 62 of 97

UPSC Prelims 2024 question on Chewing Gum Pollution

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution.

Statement-II:
Many chewing gums contain plastic as gum base.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  3. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  4. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Show answer

Answer: A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Verdict

Correct answer: Both correct and II explains I → Option (a).

Statement by statement

Statement I – CORRECT: Modern chewing gum is made up of four groups of ingredients: fillers (talc, calcium carbonate), polymers (polyvinyl acetate), emulsifiers, and softeners. Each year, chewing gum generates more than 105 tonnes of plastic garbage. The discarded non-biodegradable residue produces plastic pollution for thousands of years.

Statement II – CORRECT: Regular chewing gum has a substance called PVA (polyvinyl acetate), which is used to make tyres and glue. The gums we consume are plastic based.

Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I since plastic content in gum base is the reason for its environmental pollution.

More questions on Pollution

All 40 questions on Pollution →

← Full 2024 question paper · All Environment and Ecology questions