What is the primary cause of Itai-itai disease?

Itai-itai disease is primarily caused by cadmium toxicity. This condition is characterized by severe pain and skeletal deformities, resulting from excessive accumulation of cadmium in the body, particularly affecting the bones and kidneys. The disease was first identified in Japan, where it was linked to the ingestion of rice and water contaminated with cadmium from industrial pollution, specifically from mining activities.

Cadmium is a heavy metal that can accumulate in the body over time, leading to renal failure and osteoporosis. Symptoms include severe joint pain, which is why the disease is named "Itai-itai," translating to "ouch-ouch" in Japanese, indicating the intense suffering associated with it. Chronic exposure to cadmium also results in a condition known as “itai-itai syndrome,” where the bones become fragile and are more prone to fractures.

In contrast to the other options, lead poisoning, cobalamin deficiency, and arsenic contamination are associated with different health issues and do not cause the symptoms or conditions characteristic of Itai-itai disease. Lead poisoning often affects cognitive function and causes neurological problems, cobalamin deficiency primarily leads to anemia and neurological disorders, and arsenic poisoning presents a different set of symptoms such as skin lesions and peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, cad