Question 1

Escherichia coli:

Accepted Answer

A)  is a deadly virus found in sewage. 
B)  is an infectious protozoan. 
C)  is a good indicator of the amount of sewage present in water. 
D)  cannot be transmitted through water. 
E)  was responsible for a large outbreak of diarrhea in Milwaukee in 1993. 
A)  is a deadly virus found in sewage. 
B)  is an infectious protozoan. 
C)  is a good indicator of the amount of sewage present in water. 
D)  cannot be transmitted through water. 
E)  was responsible for a large outbreak of diarrhea in Milwaukee in 1993. C

Question 2

Lakes with naturally occurring low levels of nutrients are called:

Accepted Answer

A)  hypoxic. 
B)  eutrophic. 
C)  enriched. 
D)  oligotrophic. 
E)  polluted. 
A)  hypoxic. 
B)  eutrophic. 
C)  enriched. 
D)  oligotrophic. 
E)  polluted. D

Question 3

Put the following events of septic system operation in the correct order of occurrence:
I. Household sewage is piped into septic tank.
II. Wastewater containing suspended material flows into drain field.
III. Purified wastewater percolates into groundwater or evaporates from soil.
IV. Bacteria decompose organic material in well-aerated soil.
V. Heavy particles settle out of water and bacteria decompose grease and oil.

Accepted Answer

A)  I - II - III - IV - V 
B)  I - V - II - IV - III 
C)  I - IV - III - V - II 
D)  I - III - V - II - IV 
E)  I - IV - III - II - V 
A)  I - II - III - IV - V 
B)  I - V - II - IV - III 
C)  I - IV - III - V - II 
D)  I - III - V - II - IV 
E)  I - IV - III - II - V B

Question 4

Why is the fecal coliform test an indirect indicator of the presence of pathogens in the water? What improvements in water quality analysis will bacterial source tracking provide?

Accepted Answer

The fecal coliform test is a water-quali

Question 5

Chronic _____ poisoning from contaminated water in Bangladesh can cause skin lesions and eventually lead to death from cancer.

Accepted Answer

A)  arsenic 
B)  lead 
C)  mercury 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  phosphorus 
A)  arsenic 
B)  lead 
C)  mercury 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  phosphorus

Question 6

Describe the process of wastewater treatment, including primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment. Include the methods involved in each stage of treatment and the level of water quality following each treatment. Why is wastewater treatment an important part of sustainable water use?

Accepted Answer

In the primary stage of wastewater treat

Question 7

Which of the following statements about mercury is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Methyl mercury compounds are unusual in that they cannot cross the body's blood-brain barrier. 
B)  Significant amounts of mercury are released into the environment during the smelting of other metals. 
C)  Human exposure to mercury is primarily by eating marine animals containing high levels of mercury. 
D)  Methyl mercury compounds are more toxic forms of mercury that readily enter the food web. 
E)  Methyl mercury compounds persist in the environment for a long time. 
A)  Methyl mercury compounds are unusual in that they cannot cross the body's blood-brain barrier. 
B)  Significant amounts of mercury are released into the environment during the smelting of other metals. 
C)  Human exposure to mercury is primarily by eating marine animals containing high levels of mercury. 
D)  Methyl mercury compounds are more toxic forms of mercury that readily enter the food web. 
E)  Methyl mercury compounds persist in the environment for a long time.

Question 8

One major problem with sewage is that it adds which of the following to water?

Accepted Answer

A)  sodium chloride and dissolved oxygen 
B)  carbon dioxide and nitrogen 
C)  nitrogen and phosphorus 
D)  human wastes and heavy metals 
E)  soil and microorganisms 
A)  sodium chloride and dissolved oxygen 
B)  carbon dioxide and nitrogen 
C)  nitrogen and phosphorus 
D)  human wastes and heavy metals 
E)  soil and microorganisms

Question 9

Mercury:

Accepted Answer

A)  does not occur naturally in the environment, but is a pollutant produced exclusively through human activities. 
B)  emissions are linked to/produced by coal-fired power plants. 
C)  emissions are generated exclusively by municipal and medical waste incinerators. 
D)  emissions are strictly regulated by the Clean Air Act. 
E)  cannot be removed from power plant emissions by the technology currently available. 
A)  does not occur naturally in the environment, but is a pollutant produced exclusively through human activities. 
B)  emissions are linked to/produced by coal-fired power plants. 
C)  emissions are generated exclusively by municipal and medical waste incinerators. 
D)  emissions are strictly regulated by the Clean Air Act. 
E)  cannot be removed from power plant emissions by the technology currently available.

Question 10

Which of the following correctly identifies a source of possible lead poisoning for humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  food cans soldered with lead 
B)  bioaccumulation of lead in albacore tuna 
C)  prolonged exposure to fluorescent lights 
D)  emissions from coal-burning 
E)  bacterial agents transmitting lead particles 
A)  food cans soldered with lead 
B)  bioaccumulation of lead in albacore tuna 
C)  prolonged exposure to fluorescent lights 
D)  emissions from coal-burning 
E)  bacterial agents transmitting lead particles

Question 11

Sediment pollution is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  erosion. 
B)  disease-causing agents. 
C)  fertilizers. 
D)  toxic compounds. 
E)  heated water. 
A)  erosion. 
B)  disease-causing agents. 
C)  fertilizers. 
D)  toxic compounds. 
E)  heated water.

Question 12

Inorganic chemicals:

Accepted Answer

A)  are contaminants that contain carbon in addition to other elements. 
B)  are easily degraded, or broken down, in the environment. 
C)  are found in groundwater and surface water. 
D)  may be toxic to aquatic organisms, but are safe for human consumption. 
E)  are produced by urban, rather than industrial, sources. 
A)  are contaminants that contain carbon in addition to other elements. 
B)  are easily degraded, or broken down, in the environment. 
C)  are found in groundwater and surface water. 
D)  may be toxic to aquatic organisms, but are safe for human consumption. 
E)  are produced by urban, rather than industrial, sources.

Question 13

All of the following can be used to dispose of the sludge formed during wastewater treatment except:

Accepted Answer

A)  application to soil as a fertilizer. 
B)  incineration. 
C)  ocean dumping. 
D)  anaerobic digestion. 
E)  filtration through activated carbon granules. 
A)  application to soil as a fertilizer. 
B)  incineration. 
C)  ocean dumping. 
D)  anaerobic digestion. 
E)  filtration through activated carbon granules.

Question 14

Primary water treatment:

Accepted Answer

A)  uses aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic wastes. 
B)  removes suspended particles. 
C)  removes phosphorus and nitrogen. 
D)  involves the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. 
E)  removes heavy metals and pesticides. 
A)  uses aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic wastes. 
B)  removes suspended particles. 
C)  removes phosphorus and nitrogen. 
D)  involves the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. 
E)  removes heavy metals and pesticides.

Question 15

An inspection of your household practices revealed three ways in which you are contributing to water pollution problems! Create a plan to either reduce or eliminate these practices. List any problems that you might encounter in changing your ways, along with measures to deal with each problem.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary but one possible answe

Question 16

What is BOD? Discuss the relationship between artificial eutrophication and BOD. What is the impact of artificial eutrophication on an aquatic ecosystem in terms of dissolved oxygen levels being able to support life?

Accepted Answer

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is the a

Question 17

A fecal coliform test is a water-quality test for the presence of:

Accepted Answer

A)  disease causing bacteria. 
B)  red blood cells in feces. 
C)  the common intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli. 
D)  Human Immunodeficiency Virus. 
E)  none of these can be detected with the fecal coliform test 
A)  disease causing bacteria. 
B)  red blood cells in feces. 
C)  the common intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli. 
D)  Human Immunodeficiency Virus. 
E)  none of these can be detected with the fecal coliform test

Question 18

Which of the following is the maximum amount of a water pollutant intended for human consumption?

Accepted Answer

A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these choices is correct 
A)  national emission limitations 
B)  maximum contaminant level 
C)  artificial contaminant governance 
D)  discharge regulation standards 
E)  none of these choices is correct

Question 19

Groundwater can be contaminated from all of the following sources EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  backyards. 
B)  municipal sanitary landfills. 
C)  intensively cultivated agricultural lands. 
D)  underground petroleum storage tanks. 
E)  all of these choices are potential sources of groundwater contamination 
A)  backyards. 
B)  municipal sanitary landfills. 
C)  intensively cultivated agricultural lands. 
D)  underground petroleum storage tanks. 
E)  all of these choices are potential sources of groundwater contamination

Question 20

The "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is:

Accepted Answer

A)  home to numerous bacteria and bottom dwellers, such as sea stars and spiny lobsters, but no fishes. 
B)  due to regular dumping of untreated human sewage into the gulf. 
C)  a large zone of hypoxia caused by excessive decomposition of algae. 
D)  present year round. 
E)  the largest oxygen-free zone identified to date. 
A)  home to numerous bacteria and bottom dwellers, such as sea stars and spiny lobsters, but no fishes. 
B)  due to regular dumping of untreated human sewage into the gulf. 
C)  a large zone of hypoxia caused by excessive decomposition of algae. 
D)  present year round. 
E)  the largest oxygen-free zone identified to date.

Exam 21: Water Pollution

Escherichia coli:

Lakes with naturally occurring low levels of nutrients are called:

Why is the fecal coliform test an indirect indicator of the presence of pathogens in the water? What improvements in water quality analysis will bacterial source tracking provide?

Chronic _____ poisoning from contaminated water in Bangladesh can cause skin lesions and eventually lead to death from cancer.

Describe the process of wastewater treatment, including primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment. Include the methods involved in each stage of treatment and the level of water quality following each treatment. Why is wastewater treatment an important part of sustainable water use?

Which of the following statements about mercury is FALSE?

One major problem with sewage is that it adds which of the following to water?

Mercury:

Which of the following correctly identifies a source of possible lead poisoning for humans?

Sediment pollution is caused by:

Inorganic chemicals:

All of the following can be used to dispose of the sludge formed during wastewater treatment except:

Primary water treatment:

An inspection of your household practices revealed three ways in which you are contributing to water pollution problems! Create a plan to either reduce or eliminate these practices. List any problems that you might encounter in changing your ways, along with measures to deal with each problem.

What is BOD? Discuss the relationship between artificial eutrophication and BOD. What is the impact of artificial eutrophication on an aquatic ecosystem in terms of dissolved oxygen levels being able to support life?

A fecal coliform test is a water-quality test for the presence of:

Which of the following is the maximum amount of a water pollutant intended for human consumption?

Groundwater can be contaminated from all of the following sources EXCEPT:

The "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico is:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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