Deck 19: Environmental Health

Question 1

Which of the following countries has the largest "ecological footprint"?

A) China
B) India
C) United States
D) Australia

Answer 1

United States

Question 2

All of the following statements about particulates are true EXCEPT

A) they are tiny particles suspended in the air.
B) car and truck exhaust releases particulates.
C) they can corrode metals.
D) they have no real effect on health.

Answer 2

they have no real effect on health.

Question 3

You are surveying your home for sources of lead because

A) lead can be extremely detrimental to children and fetuses.
B) lead can make the paint on windowsills chip away.
C) the weight of lead in a house can cause the foundation to crack.
D) lead can cause minor allergic reactions.

Answer 3

lead can be extremely detrimental to children and fetuses.

Question 4

The industrial facilities that are the greatest source of nitrogen dioxide in the United States are

A) paper manufacturing.
B) coal-powered electrical plants.
C) automobile manufacturing.
D) semiconductor manufacturing.

Question 5

Reasons for continued population growth in many developing nations include all of the following EXCEPT

A) traditional views of children as "social security."
B) incentives and tax breaks for larger families.
C) the low socioeconomic status of women.
D) a traditional desire for sons.

Question 6

You considering purchasing an older home in a historic neighborhood. You have hired an inspector to check the house for sources of lead, which may be in all of the following EXCEPT

A) paint.
B) pipes and plumbing.
C) glazes.
D) wood floors.

Question 7

When trying to ensure clean air in your home, sources of pollution to look for include all of the following EXCEPT

A) lead gases.
B) asbestos.
C) formaldehyde.
D) radon.

Question 8

Motor vehicle emissions are the primary source of the dangerous, odorless, colorless gas known as

A) carbon monoxide.
B) nitrogen dioxide.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) sulfur dioxide.

Question 9

Nancy bought two beautiful hand-painted platters during a recent trip to Mexico. She should have these dishes tested for which contaminant before using them to serve food?

A) Dioxin
B) Formaldehyde
C) Lead
D) Sulfur

Question 10

Air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act include all of the following EXCEPT

A) sulfur dioxide.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) particulates.
D) carbon dioxide.

Question 11

Nitrogen dioxide and oxygen interact with sunlight to form

A) carbon monoxide.
B) ozone.
C) particulates.
D) sulfur dioxide.

Question 12

The country projected to have the largest population by 2050 is

A) China.
B) India.
C) the Philippines.
D) Zambia.

Question 13

According to population experts, the most critical environmental challenge today is

A) cleaning up landfills.
B) eliminating greenhouse gas.
C) slowing population growth in cities.
D) slowing population growth worldwide.

Question 14

Chemicals used to kill insects and rodents are

A) dioxins.
B) solvents.
C) pesticides.
D) herbicides.

Question 15

Which of the following is one of the molecular forms of oxygen?

A) Hydrocarbons
B) Nitrogen
C) Ozone
D) Particulates

Question 16

Which of the following is major concern in regard to overpopulation?

A) Negative impact on global ecosystems and food supply
B) Increasing levels of prosperity in developed nations
C) More alternative fuels becoming available
D) Animal populations increasing

Question 17

When couples choose to have no more than two children, this will result in

A) reproductive restriction.
B) zero population growth.
C) limited procreation.
D) negative population growth.

Question 18

Chemicals used to kill weeds and vegetation are

A) dioxins.
B) solvents.
C) pesticides.
D) herbicides.

Question 19

A yellowish-brown gas that is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels is

A) nitrogen dioxide.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) carbon dioxide.
D) sulfur dioxide.

Question 20

All of the following are consequences of population growth EXCEPT

A) natural resources being depleted.
B) animal habitats being destroyed.
C) decreased availability of clean water.
D) higher healthcare costs.

Question 21

An example of a nonpoint source water pollutant is

A) outflow from a sewage treatment plant.
B) pesticide runoff from a farm.
C) waste from a mulching operation.
D) industrial waste from a chemical plant.

Question 22

Which of the following initiatives for reducing air pollution is ineffective?

A) Setting high parking fees
B) Establishing high road-usage tolls
C) Imposing bans on city driving
D) Increasing the cost of mass transportation

Question 23

Most experts agree that the only truly effective way to reduce air pollution is to

A) change all industrial waste laws.
B) reduce consumption of fossil fuels and shift to alternative energy sources.
C) make cars larger, heavier, and more efficient.
D) eliminate mass transportation as much as possible.

Question 24

Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can lead to

A) eye and skin irritations.
B) memory loss, anxiety, and depression.
C) circulatory problems.
D) cancer and central nervous system disorders.

Question 25

Increases in the planet's temperature over the past few decades can be attributed to

A) acid rain.
B) excess carbon monoxide
C) the increased use of chlorofluorocarbons.
D) the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Question 26

The process of formaldehyde being released into the air is referred to as

A) becoming friable.
B) leaching.
C) outgassing.
D) dispersing.

Question 27

Sources of water contamination include all of the following EXCEPT

A) gas and petroleum products.
B) dioxins.
C) radon.
D) PCBs.

Question 28

Seth has a sensitivity to mold. When he visits his grandparents and spends time in their damp basement in his grandfather's wood shop, he likely experiences all of the following EXCEPT

A) nasal congestion.
B) eye and skin irritation.
C) difficulty breathing.
D) migraine headaches.

Question 29

The average person in the United States generates how many pounds of municipal solid waste each day?

A) More than 4
B) More than 6
C) More than 8
D) More than 10

Question 30

Global warming can cause all the following EXCEPT

A) altered patterns of agriculture.
B) lowering of sea levels.
C) glacier retreat.
D) extreme weather events.

Question 31

The most predominant greenhouse gas is

A) nitrous oxide.
B) carbon dioxide.
C) hydrochlorazine.
D) methane.

Question 32

All of the following are examples of renewable resources EXCEPT

A) solar.
B) wind.
C) water.
D) coal.

Question 33

The chemical originally contained in aerosol propellants that is thought to have contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer is

A) carbon oxides.
B) chlorofluorocarbons.
C) fluorohydrochlorides.
D) nitrous oxide.

Question 34

The two general types of water pollution are described as

A) point source and nonpoint source.
B) toxic and nontoxic.
C) runoff and nonrunoff.
D) acid and nonacid.

Question 35

Coal-powered electrical utility boilers and motor vehicles emit

A) nitrogen dioxide.
B) carbon dioxide.
C) hydrochlorazine.
D) hydrocarbons.

Question 36

An example of a point source water pollutant is

A) runoff from a construction site.
B) outflow from a sewage treatment plant.
C) weed-killer used on lawns.
D) leakage from a septic tank.

Question 37

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued updated standards to reduce the levels of lead in U.S. drinking water supplies. The regulations stipulate that tap water lead values must not exceed

A) 10 parts per billion.
B) 15 parts per billion.
C) 20 parts per billion.
D) 25 parts per billion.

Question 38

Ozone is an atmospheric layer that is

A) close to Earth and poses no serious health threats.
B) in the stratosphere and protects the planet from UVB radiation.
C) a chemical that is produced when oxygen interacts with water.
D) the layer of gas located 100 miles above the Earth's surface.

Question 39

You have been looking at numerous new homes. The nausea and fatigue you are attributing to the stress of buying a new house may actually be due to exposure to

A) asbestos.
B) carbon monoxide.
C) formaldehyde.
D) radon.

Question 40

Earth's surface temperature has risen by how much in the past 100 years?

A) More than 1 degree but less than 2 degrees
B) More than 2 degrees but less than 3 degrees
C) More than 3 degrees but less than 5 degrees
D) More than 5 degrees

Question 41

Marta collects kitchen scraps and yard clippings in a bin outside of her home to create this soil enhancement for her garden. She is

A) recycling.
B) composting.
C) reducing energy use.
D) farming.

Question 42

Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can lead to

A) loss of concentration.
B) hearing loss.
C) memory loss.
D) personality disorders.

Question 43

Which type of accident results when the temperature in the core of a nuclear reactor increases enough to melt the fuel and breach the containment vessel?

A) Flood
B) Fire
C) Explosion
D) Meltdown

Question 44

Toxic waste (hazardous waste) in landfills and dump sites can harm entire ecosystems.

Question 45

Evidence suggests that air within homes and buildings can be 10 to 40 times more hazardous than outdoor air.

Question 46

Electromagnetic waves and particles with short wavelengths and enough energy to ionize atoms is

A) cell phone radiation.
B) nonionizing radiation.
C) ionizing radiation.
D) microwave radiation.

Question 47

The average number of births a female in a given population has during her reproductive years is the

A) conception rate.
B) birth rate.
C) fertility rate.
D) reproductive rate.

Question 48

Which naturally occurring odorless, colorless gas seeps into homes and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer?

A) Radon
B) Asbestos
C) Lead
D) Mold

Question 49

A measure of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, shown as units of carbon dioxide emissions, is the

A) smog level.
B) carbon level.
C) carbon footprint.
D) air quality index.

Question 50

Radiation exposure is measured in which of the following units (also called roentgens)?

A) Radiation ionized units
B) Radiation absorbed doses
C) Radiation exposed doses
D) Radiation frequency units

Question 51

Oil, coal, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels, which are carbon-based fuels.

Question 52

All of the following statements regarding the safety of cell phones are true EXCEPT

A) the levels of radio frequency energy in cell phones are high enough to cause biological tissue damage.
B) the FCC limits the radio frequency energy in cell phones to 1.6 watts.
C) for the highest level of safety, it is best to use a hands-free device if a cell phone will be used for extended periods of time.
D) three large studies showed no relationship between cell phone usage and brain tumors to date.

Question 53

According to experts, what percentage of trash is recyclable?

A) 35%
B) 50%
C) 75%
D) 90%

Question 54

A measure of how clean or polluted the air in a given region is on a particular day is the

A) smog level.
B) carbon level.
C) carbon footprint.
D) air quality index.

Question 55

Which type of substance is an environmental contaminant that causes harm to living organisms?

A) Pollutant
B) Hazard
C) Runoff
D) Compound

Question 56

Which inexpensive device can be attached to faucets and showerheads to reduce water consumption?

A) Filter
B) Aerator
C) Pump
D) Gasket

Question 57

Gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and play a role in global warming by trapping heat near the Earth's surface are

A) ionizing gases.
B) greenhouse gases.
C) stratospheric gases.
D) hydrocarbons.

Question 58

Which material that was formerly used in construction materials has been found to be the cause of certain cancers and lung diseases?

A) Radon
B) Asbestos
C) Lead
D) PCBs

Question 59

Currently, India is the most populous country in the world.

Question 60

Countries that can afford a high birth rate are the ones with the most rapidly growing populations.

Question 61

Runoff from a parking lot is considered nonpoint source pollution.

Question 62

Describe three sources of indoor air pollution and how you might prevent them from contributing to the indoor air pollution.

Question 63

Cigarette smoke releases particulates into the air and is the greatest source of indoor air pollution.

Question 64

Explain how taking steps to preserve the environment for future generations can save you money now.

Question 65

Explain why slowing the world's population growth is the most critical environmental challenge today.

Question 66

Discuss the three main areas of focus in preventing indoor air pollution.

Question 67

Most solid municipal waste is recycled.

Question 68

Discuss three ways your can reduce the waste you generate at home.

Question 69

The Superfund was established by the federal government to provide money for water conservation efforts in certain communities.

Question 70

The global warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is due to human activities.

Question 71

Explain the zero population growth initiative.

Question 72

A decibel level of 110 is 10 times louder than 100 decibels.