Question 1

Studies of endocrine disruptors have shown that they are closely associated with all of the following EXCEPT _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  gonadal abnormalities 
B)  thyroid hormone abnormalities 
C)  erectile dysfunction 
D)  lung cancer 
E)  male feminization 
A)  gonadal abnormalities 
B)  thyroid hormone abnormalities 
C)  erectile dysfunction 
D)  lung cancer 
E)  male feminization D

Question 2

Mercury is not readily excreted; it is stored in mammalian body tissues. This is best described as .

Accepted Answer

A)  distillation 
B)  toxification 
C)  bioaccumulation 
D)  synergism 
E)  biomagnification 
A)  distillation 
B)  toxification 
C)  bioaccumulation 
D)  synergism 
E)  biomagnification C

Question 3

is/are biodegradable and known to have (a) short persistence time(s).

Accepted Answer

A)  Bt toxin 
B)  PBDEs 
C)  DDE 
D)  PCBs 
E)  DDT 
A)  Bt toxin 
B)  PBDEs 
C)  DDE 
D)  PCBs 
E)  DDT A

Question 4

Concentrations of methyl mercury are higher in large fish than in their prey and in the air. This is best described as .

Accepted Answer

A)  synergism 
B)  distillation 
C)  toxification 
D)  bioaccumulation 
E)  biomagnification 
A)  synergism 
B)  distillation 
C)  toxification 
D)  bioaccumulation 
E)  biomagnification

Question 5

Pregnant women and children are warned not to eat certain kinds of fish that have high mercury content. Why do some fish tend to have higher mercury levels than other fish?

Accepted Answer

A)  The high levels of mercury are an adaptation to avoid predation by humans. 
B)  Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have bioaccumulated levels of methylmercury, thus further bioaccumulating the pollutant. 
C)  Some fish tend to thrive in habitats near factories that release high levels of mercury. 
D)  Some species of fish live in areas that are more contaminated with methylmercury. The species of fish living in those areas should be avoided. 
E)  Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have biomagnified levels of methylmercury, thus further biomagnifying the pollutant. 
A)  The high levels of mercury are an adaptation to avoid predation by humans. 
B)  Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have bioaccumulated levels of methylmercury, thus further bioaccumulating the pollutant. 
C)  Some fish tend to thrive in habitats near factories that release high levels of mercury. 
D)  Some species of fish live in areas that are more contaminated with methylmercury. The species of fish living in those areas should be avoided. 
E)  Fish that are high in the food chain eat prey that already have biomagnified levels of methylmercury, thus further biomagnifying the pollutant.

Question 6

The Toxic Substances Control Act regulates _ .

Accepted Answer

A)  industrial chemicals 
B)  pesticides 
C)  cosmetics 
D)  food additives 
E)  drugs 
A)  industrial chemicals 
B)  pesticides 
C)  cosmetics 
D)  food additives 
E)  drugs

Question 7

The bald eagle and peregrine falcon are _.

Accepted Answer

A)  top consumers susceptible to eggshell damage caused by DDT 
B)  U.S. invasive species 
C)  extinct 
D)  overhunted for their feathers 
E)  found only in Florida 
A)  top consumers susceptible to eggshell damage caused by DDT 
B)  U.S. invasive species 
C)  extinct 
D)  overhunted for their feathers 
E)  found only in Florida

Question 8

The book Our Stolen Future was important because it .

Accepted Answer

A)  was the first book that discussed environmental problems with DDT 
B)  was the first book to dispute claims in Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring 
C)  was the first book that discussed water pollution problems in Lake Apopka 
D)  is credited with starting the environmental movement in the United States 
E)  was the first book to focus on the impacts of endocrine -disrupting chemicals 
A)  was the first book that discussed environmental problems with DDT 
B)  was the first book to dispute claims in Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring 
C)  was the first book that discussed water pollution problems in Lake Apopka 
D)  is credited with starting the environmental movement in the United States 
E)  was the first book to focus on the impacts of endocrine -disrupting chemicals

Question 9

The worldwide drop in sperm counts among men has been attributed to .

Accepted Answer

A)  endocrine disruptors 
B)  teratogens 
C)  allergens 
D)  DDT 
E)  radon 
A)  endocrine disruptors 
B)  teratogens 
C)  allergens 
D)  DDT 
E)  radon

Question 10

are substances that cause birth defects.

Accepted Answer

A)  Allergens 
B)  Vectors 
C)  Teratogens 
D)  Neurotoxins 
E)  Carcinogens 
A)  Allergens 
B)  Vectors 
C)  Teratogens 
D)  Neurotoxins 
E)  Carcinogens

Question 11

In her study performed in Yaqui Valley, Mexico, Elizabeth Guillette found that .

Accepted Answer

A)  infectious disease is more widespread in poor countries 
B)  frogs were affected by water pollution 
C)  wealth is correlated with intelligence 
D)  organic agriculture can be successful with government support 
E)  developmental delays occurred in children exposed to pesticides 
A)  infectious disease is more widespread in poor countries 
B)  frogs were affected by water pollution 
C)  wealth is correlated with intelligence 
D)  organic agriculture can be successful with government support 
E)  developmental delays occurred in children exposed to pesticides

Question 12

Initiated in 2007, the REACH program _.

Accepted Answer

A)  requires all chemicals imported into the United States to have a material safety data sheet 
B)  regulates the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing 
C)  protects European companies who have patented trade secrets from revealing the chemical information about their products 
D)  replaced the Toxic Substances Control Act with a policy that was more strict regarding chemical safety 
E)  was passed by the European Union to protect its citizens from unsafe chemicals 
A)  requires all chemicals imported into the United States to have a material safety data sheet 
B)  regulates the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing 
C)  protects European companies who have patented trade secrets from revealing the chemical information about their products 
D)  replaced the Toxic Substances Control Act with a policy that was more strict regarding chemical safety 
E)  was passed by the European Union to protect its citizens from unsafe chemicals

Question 13

The flat line at the left in (b) probably represents .

Accepted Answer

A)  no visible effect because the body's physiological processes can cope with low doses of a toxicant 
B)  that no data were collected for the flatline area 
C)  competing effects of some other substance whose effect wasn't measured 
D)  the fact that no toxicant was introduced until the response line begins to rise 
E)  the fact that there is no physiological effect of the toxicant at low doses 
A)  no visible effect because the body's physiological processes can cope with low doses of a toxicant 
B)  that no data were collected for the flatline area 
C)  competing effects of some other substance whose effect wasn't measured 
D)  the fact that no toxicant was introduced until the response line begins to rise 
E)  the fact that there is no physiological effect of the toxicant at low doses

Question 14

Which of the following are indoor chemical hazards?

Accepted Answer

A)  BPA and PCBs 
B)  wastewater toxicants 
C)  DDT and DDE 
D)  radon and asbestos 
E)  petroleum and pesticides 
A)  BPA and PCBs 
B)  wastewater toxicants 
C)  DDT and DDE 
D)  radon and asbestos 
E)  petroleum and pesticides

Question 15

Infectious disease accounts for % of deaths globally.

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 1 
B)  almost 17 
C)  almost 50 
D)  almost 64 
E)  almost 79 
A)  less than 1 
B)  almost 17 
C)  almost 50 
D)  almost 64 
E)  almost 79

Question 16

Of the chemicals that fall under the Toxic Substances Control Act, have been thoroughly
Tested for toxicity and damage.
Have been tested for endocrine, nervous, or immune system

Accepted Answer

A)  10; 2% 
B)  25; 10% 
C)  half; half 
D)  10; 10% 
E)  half; 25% 
A)  10; 2% 
B)  25; 10% 
C)  half; half 
D)  10; 10% 
E)  half; 25%

Question 17

What are the properties of toxicants that are likely to build up in animals through bioaccumulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are carcinogenic and mutagenic. 
B)  They contain nitrogen and sulfur. 
C)  They are gases that are readily carried by pesticide drift. 
D)  They are nonbiodegradable and lipid -soluble. 
E)  They are biodegradable and water soluble. 
A)  They are carcinogenic and mutagenic. 
B)  They contain nitrogen and sulfur. 
C)  They are gases that are readily carried by pesticide drift. 
D)  They are nonbiodegradable and lipid -soluble. 
E)  They are biodegradable and water soluble.

Question 18

Assuming that the scales for graphs (a) and (b) are identical, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower LD50 compared to the toxicant shown in (a). 
B)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a higher toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a). 
C)  Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (a) shows a higher dose than graph (b). 
D)  Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (b) shows a higher dose than graph (a). 
E)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a). 
A)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower LD50 compared to the toxicant shown in (a). 
B)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a higher toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a). 
C)  Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (a) shows a higher dose than graph (b). 
D)  Graphs (a) and (b) show results for the same toxicant, but graph (b) shows a higher dose than graph (a). 
E)  The toxicant shown in (b) has a lower toxicity than the toxicant shown in (a).

Question 19

Based upon the specific health effects described in the scenario, mercury would be best classified as a(n) .

Accepted Answer

A)  synergist 
B)  endocrine disruptor 
C)  allergen 
D)  neurotoxin 
E)  carcinogen 
A)  synergist 
B)  endocrine disruptor 
C)  allergen 
D)  neurotoxin 
E)  carcinogen

Question 20

are substances that cause cancer.

Accepted Answer

A)  Carcinogens 
B)  Teratogens 
C)  Neurotoxins 
D)  Vectors 
E)  Allergens 
A)  Carcinogens 
B)  Teratogens 
C)  Neurotoxins 
D)  Vectors 
E)  Allergens

Exam 14: Global Climate Change

Studies of endocrine disruptors have shown that they are closely associated with all of the following EXCEPT _ .

Mercury is not readily excreted; it is stored in mammalian body tissues. This is best described as .

is/are biodegradable and known to have (a) short persistence time(s).

Concentrations of methyl mercury are higher in large fish than in their prey and in the air. This is best described as .

Pregnant women and children are warned not to eat certain kinds of fish that have high mercury content. Why do some fish tend to have higher mercury levels than other fish?

The Toxic Substances Control Act regulates _ .

The bald eagle and peregrine falcon are _.

The book Our Stolen Future was important because it .

The worldwide drop in sperm counts among men has been attributed to .

are substances that cause birth defects.

In her study performed in Yaqui Valley, Mexico, Elizabeth Guillette found that .

Initiated in 2007, the REACH program _.

The flat line at the left in (b) probably represents .

Which of the following are indoor chemical hazards?

Infectious disease accounts for % of deaths globally.

Of the chemicals that fall under the Toxic Substances Control Act, have been thoroughly Tested for toxicity and damage. Have been tested for endocrine, nervous, or immune system

What are the properties of toxicants that are likely to build up in animals through bioaccumulation?

Assuming that the scales for graphs (a) and (b) are identical, which of the following statements is TRUE?

Based upon the specific health effects described in the scenario, mercury would be best classified as a(n) .

are substances that cause cancer.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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