Change set
Pick exam & year, then Go.
Question map
Consider the following pairs : Commonly used / consumed materials Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to be found in them 1. Lipstick - Lead 2. Soft drinks - Brominated vegetable oils 3. Chinese fast food - Monosodium glutamate Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option D because all three pairs are correctly matched.
**Pair 1 (Lipstick - Lead):** Lead is found in various consumer products including cosmetics[1], and lipsticks have been documented to contain trace amounts of lead, making this pair correctly matched.
**Pair 2 (Soft drinks - Brominated vegetable oils):** Brominated vegetable oils (BVO) have historically been used as emulsifiers in citrus-flavored soft drinks to keep flavoring oils suspended in the beverage. This is a well-documented practice, making this pair correct.
**Pair 3 (Chinese fast food - Monosodium glutamate):** Monosodium glutamate additive (E621) is associated with brain damage and neuro-pathologies[2], and MSG is commonly used as a flavor enhancer in Chinese cuisine and fast food. This pairing is accurate as MSG has been a controversial ingredient traditionally associated with Chinese restaurant food.
Since all three pairs correctly match commonly used materials with their controversial chemical components, option D (1, 2 and 3) is the correct answer.
Sources- [1] )05348-3
- [2] https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/nr/sustainability_pathways/docs/MARCH_28_August_2017.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question masquerades as General Science but is actually 'Headlines Management'. It was triggered by the 2015 Maggi (MSG) controversy and recurring reports on BVO in sodas and Lead in cosmetics. The strategy is to track 'Food Safety Scandals' and FSSAI bans rather than memorizing chemistry textbooks.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Pb-containing sources include food cans, water pipes, contaminated drinking water, cosmetics, batteries, paint, traditional remedies, gasoline, Pb-crystal, Pb-glazed ceramics, cigarette smoke, jewelry, children’s toys, vinyl lunch boxes, and even contaminated candy"
Why this source?
- Passage explicitly lists 'cosmetics' among Pb-containing sources, which covers makeup products like lipsticks.
- Identifies lead as a contaminant found in consumer cosmetic items, supporting that lipstick can contain lead as an impurity.
- Passage explicitly lists 'cosmetics' among Pb-containing sources, which covers makeup products like lipsticks.
- Identifies lead as a contaminant found in consumer cosmetic items, supporting that lipstick can contain lead as an impurity.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Lead > p. 64
Strength: 4/5
“• It is present in petrol, diesel, lead batteries, paints, hair dye products, etc. Lead affects children in particular.• It can cause nervous system damage and digestive problems and, in some cases, cause cancer.”
Why relevant
This snippet lists 'hair dye products' among consumer products that can contain lead, implying that personal-care/color products may be a route for lead presence.
How to extend
A student could note that lipsticks are colored cosmetics like hair dyes and thus check whether cosmetic pigments or dye ingredients commonly contain lead or are contaminated by it.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > lead > p. 33
Strength: 3/5
“Lead is widely used metal due to its malleability, heaviness and bad conductivity of heat. Lead oxide is used in lead sheeting, cable covers, paints, glass making and rubber industry. It is now increasingly used in automobiles, aeroplanes, typewriters and calculating machines. Te leading lead producing centres of lead in the world are shown in Fig. 9.10 (Table 9.21). in the World • Country: 1. Australia; Percentage of Total Production: 34.0 • Country: 2. China; Percentage of Total Production: 14.0 • Country: 3. Brazil; Percentage of Total Production: 12.0 • Country: 4. Jamaica; Percentage of Total Production: 11.0 • Country: 5.”
Why relevant
Describes lead use in 'glass making' and in industries producing colored materials, indicating lead compounds are used in manufacturing colored/finished goods.
How to extend
One could extend this to consider whether colorants or pigment manufacturing processes used for lipstick could introduce lead contamination.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 16
Strength: 3/5
“Lead is widely used because of its heaviness, malleability, softness and bad conductivity of heat. It is used in alloys, cable cover, lead-sheeting, ammunition, glass making, paints making, automobiles, aeroplanes, type-writers, calculating machines, printing and rubber industry. Lead does not occur free in nature. It is obtained from galena which is found in association with limestone, sandstones and calcareous slates. According to an estimate, India has lead reserves of about 715 million tonnes”
Why relevant
Lists lead's widespread industrial uses (paints, glass, alloys), showing lead is broadly used in materials that provide color or finish.
How to extend
A student might infer that any product whose color comes from industrial pigments (including cosmetics) could plausibly be a source of lead unless regulated.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > 29.r.7, Lead in Paints > p. 414
Strength: 4/5
“• Modern houses are full of harmful chemicals. One of them is lead, present in paints. • Though several countries have banned the use of this substance India is yet to do so, which is why paint makers use them. • O Inhaling lead dust, like opening or closing windows, is the most common source of lead poisoning. • r The human body is designed to process lead. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lead as it can damage the central nervous system and the brain. • r If lead is so poisonous why do paint makers continue to use it?”
Why relevant
Explains that lead remains in consumer products (paints) in places without bans, illustrating that lack of regulation can leave lead in everyday goods.
How to extend
Combine this with knowledge of regulatory differences: if a country hasn’t banned lead in certain uses, imported or locally made cosmetics could contain lead contaminants.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > s.11. E - WASTE > p. 92
Strength: 3/5
“• The discarded and end-of-life electronic products, ranging from computers, equipment used in Information and Communication Technology (lCT), home appliances, audio and video products and all of their peripherals, are popularly known as Electronic waste (E-waste). • E-waste is not hazardous if it is stocked in safe storage or recycled by scientific methods or transported from one place to the other in parts or in totality in the formal sector. • s.No: 1.; PARTICULARS: Lead; SOURCE: Used in glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors Solder in printed circuit boards and other Components; HEATJTH EFFECTS: Lead causes damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, kidney and reproductive system in humans.”
Why relevant
Shows lead appears in unexpected consumer-product components (glass panels, solder in electronics), highlighting that lead can be present in diverse manufactured items.
How to extend
This supports checking non-obvious pathways (packaging, manufacturing equipment, pigment sources) by which lipsticks might acquire trace lead.
This snippet lists 'hair dye products' among consumer products that can contain lead, implying that personal-care/color products may be a route for lead presence.
A student could note that lipsticks are colored cosmetics like hair dyes and thus check whether cosmetic pigments or dye ingredients commonly contain lead or are contaminated by it.
Describes lead use in 'glass making' and in industries producing colored materials, indicating lead compounds are used in manufacturing colored/finished goods.
One could extend this to consider whether colorants or pigment manufacturing processes used for lipstick could introduce lead contamination.
Lists lead's widespread industrial uses (paints, glass, alloys), showing lead is broadly used in materials that provide color or finish.
A student might infer that any product whose color comes from industrial pigments (including cosmetics) could plausibly be a source of lead unless regulated.
Explains that lead remains in consumer products (paints) in places without bans, illustrating that lack of regulation can leave lead in everyday goods.
Combine this with knowledge of regulatory differences: if a country hasn’t banned lead in certain uses, imported or locally made cosmetics could contain lead contaminants.
Shows lead appears in unexpected consumer-product components (glass panels, solder in electronics), highlighting that lead can be present in diverse manufactured items.
This supports checking non-obvious pathways (packaging, manufacturing equipment, pigment sources) by which lipsticks might acquire trace lead.
This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.
Login with Google to unlock study guidance.
Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.
Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.
Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.
Login with Google to unlock The Vault.