Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other one is labeled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): The organochlorine pesticides accumulate in the fatty tissues in the human body.

Reason (R): Organochlorine pesticides are chemically unstable and hydrophobic.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the option given below.

Correct option is C

Explanation of the Correct Option (c): (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
Why Assertion (A) is CORRECT:
· Organochlorine pesticides (e.g., DDT, aldrin) are:
· Highly lipophilic (fat-soluble)
· Poorly excreted from the body
· Due to their fat solubility, they:
· Accumulate in fatty tissues
· Undergo biomagnification in the food chain
· Hence, accumulation in human fatty tissues is a well-established fact.
Why Reason (R) is INCORRECT:
· Organochlorine pesticides are:
· Chemically stable, not unstable
· Highly hydrophobic
· Their chemical stability is the reason for:
· Long persistence in the environment
· Slow degradation
· Since the reason incorrectly states “chemically unstable,” it is false.
Explanation of Other Options
Option (a): Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) explains (A)
· Incorrect because:
· Although (A) is correct, (R) contains an incorrect statement.
Option (b): Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the explanation
· Incorrect because:
· (R) itself is not correct.
Option (d): (A) is not correct but (R) is correct
· Incorrect because:
· Assertion (A) is scientifically correct.
Key Points Related to the Question
· Organochlorine pesticides are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)
· Characteristics:
· High lipid solubility
· Chemical stability
· Long biological half-life
· Effects:
· Bioaccumulation in fatty tissues
· Biomagnification in food chains