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?

The correct option is: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.

Analysis of Statement-I:
Statement-I asserts that many chewing gums found in the market are considered a source of environmental pollution. This statement is correct. Chewing gum is one of the most common forms of litter worldwide. Because it is sticky, it adheres to pavements, streets, and other outdoor surfaces. Cleaning it up is extremely difficult and costly for municipalities. Additionally, discarded chewing gum is not easily degraded, leading to long-term accumulation in the environment, and it can also be ingested by wildlife, causing them harm.

Analysis of Statement-II:
Statement-II states that many chewing gums contain plastic as a gum base. This statement is also correct. Traditional chewing gums used natural latexes like chicle (derived from the sapodilla tree) as their base. However, most modern commercial chewing gums use synthetic polymers (specifically plastics and rubbers such as polyethylene, polyisobutylene, and polyvinyl acetate) as their "gum base" to achieve the desired chewiness and stretchability. These synthetic polymers are non-biodegradable forms of plastic.

Evaluating the Relationship:
Since modern chewing gums contain synthetic plastics as their gum base (Statement-II), they do not biodegrade when discarded. This non-biodegradable plastic content directly causes chewing gum to persist in the environment, making it a significant source of long-term environmental pollution (Statement-I). Therefore, Statement-II is correct and provides the direct logical explanation for why Statement-I is correct.