Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and other is labelled as Reason R

Assertion A: Children are much more vulnerable than adults to environmental toxins.

Reason R: For each kilogram of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food and breathe more air adults.

In the light of the above statements.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Analysis of Assertion A:
Assertion A states that "Children are much more vulnerable than adults to environmental toxins." This is biologically and medically true. Children are not just "small adults"; their organs and physiological systems are still developing. Their bodies have a less developed blood-brain barrier, and their detoxification pathways (like liver enzymes and renal excretion) are immature, making it harder for them to metabolize and eliminate harmful toxins. Therefore, Assertion A is true.

2. Analysis of Reason R:
Reason R states that "For each kilogram of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food and breathe more air adults." This is also factually true. Because children are growing rapidly and have a higher metabolic rate, their intake of food, water, and air per unit of body mass (kilogram) is significantly higher than that of adults. For example, an infant drinks more water and inhales more air relative to their body weight than a fully grown adult. Therefore, Reason R is true.

3. Evaluating the Link (Explanation):
Since children consume more water, food, and air per kilogram of body weight, they also ingest and inhale a proportionately larger dose of any environmental toxins present in their water, food, and air compared to adults. This higher relative exposure, combined with their developing physiological systems, directly explains why they are much more vulnerable to environmental toxins. Thus, Reason R is the correct explanation of Assertion A.