Deck 19: Air Pollution

Question 1

Paints and cleaning products can release _____ that contribute to smog production.

A) lead
B) nitrogen oxides
C) ozone
D) particulate matter
E) volatile organic compounds

Answer 1

E

Question 2

The most abundant gas in the Earth's atmosphere is:

A) argon.
B) carbon dioxide.
C) hydrogen.
D) nitrogen.
E) oxygen.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Automobiles and trucks do not release significant quantities of the following into the atmosphere:

A) carbon dioxide
B) hydrocarbons
C) nitrogen oxides
D) particulate matter
E) sulfur oxides

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The effect of carbon monoxide on humans is:

A) eye and skin irritation.
B) a higher incidence of heart defects in infants whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy.
C) impairing gas exchange in the lungs by causing the airways to constrict.
D) its irreversible binding with hemoglobin, eliminating the body's ability to transport oxygen in the blood.
E) suppressing the immune system.

Question 5

Urban areas receive less sunlight than rural areas, partly as a result of greater quantities of __________ in the air.

A) ozone
B) hydrocarbons
C) particulate matter
D) sulfur oxides
E) nitrogen oxides

Question 6

The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants:

A) only affect plants, while secondary pollutants affect plants and animals.
B) are not harmful to humans, whereas secondary air pollutants may be toxic to humans.
C) enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants form from other substances released into the atmosphere.
D) are the direct result of natural processes, whereas secondary air pollutants are the result of human activity.
E) are smaller, primary molecules.

Question 7

Temperature inversions:

A) cause gases and particulate matter to remain trapped near the ground.
B) typically last for weeks at a time.
C) occur when air a layer of warm air is trapped near the ground by a colder, upper layer.
D) are of greatest concern in areas with relatively flat topography.
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 8

All of the following affect ozone-related air quality in Southern California except:

A) high temperatures.
B) hydrocarbons.
C) lead.
D) sunlight.
E) water vapor.

Question 9

Which of the following air pollutants is correctly paired with one of its major effects?

A) sulfur oxides - acid precipitation
B) carbon oxides - corrosion of metal
C) hydrocarbons - reduced visibility
D) nitrogen oxides - blocks UV radiation
E) particulate matter - production of photochemical smog

Question 10

Which of the following effects is NOT typically associated with outdoor air exposure to lead?

A) acute poisoning
B) behavioral problems
C) headaches
D) hearing problems
E) permanently reduced cognitive abilities

Question 11

Photochemical smog:

A) is sometimes called London-type smog.
B) is generally worse during the winter months.
C) is formed from chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
D) is caused primarily by industrial emissions.
E) was more prevalent in the 1800s than the 1900s.

Question 12

Which air pollutant is associated with slow development and permanent reduction in mental ability for young children?

A) carbon dioxide
B) lead
C) nitrogen dioxide
D) ozone
E) radon

Question 13

_______ is a lung disease that causes breathlessness and wheezy breathing.

A) Cataracts
B) Diabetes
C) Emphysema
D) Hepatitis
E) Meningitis

Question 14

Fine solid or liquid substances suspended in the air are known as:

A) primary air pollutants.
B) particulate matter.
C) hydrocarbons.
D) secondary air pollutants.
E) hazardous air pollutants.

Question 15

The stratospheric chemical that prevents much of the solar ultraviolet radiation from penetrating to Earth's surface is:

A) carbon dioxide.
B) water vapor.
C) ozone.
D) particulate matter.
E) nitrogen oxides.

Question 16

Air pollution has been linked to all of the following human health problems except:

A) suppression of the immune system.
B) increased susceptibility to West Nile virus.
C) inflammation of the respiratory tract.
D) potential development of emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
E) impaired reflexes and increased drowsiness.

Question 17

Industrial smog:

A) was first described in Los Angeles.
B) caused thousands of deaths in London.
C) is formed from chemical reactions involving sunlight and hydrocarbons.
D) is much worse in the summer months.
E) is only a significant problem in highly-developed countries.

Question 18

The two main human sources of primary air pollutants are:

A) agriculture and residential sources.
B) agriculture and industry.
C) industry and incineration.
D) industry and transportation.
E) incineration and transportation.

Question 19

A study of 5000 children in southern California found all of the following EXCEPT?

A) children who play sports in high-ozone areas are more likely to develop asthma
B) children who breathe polluted air have less lung growth than children who breathe cleaner air
C) children's lung development did not change when they moved to areas with less particulate air pollution
D) children who moved from areas of high particulate pollution to areas with lower particulate pollution showed increasing lung development
E) none of these choices is correct

Question 20

The two atmospheric gases most important to humans and other organisms are:

A) carbon dioxide and oxygen.
B) hydrogen and oxygen.
C) oxygen and argon.
D) carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
E) carbon monoxide and oxygen.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT an effect of acid deposition?

A) destruction of monuments and buildings
B) decreased hatching success in some birds
C) forest decline
D) mutations and skin cancer
E) decline in aquatic animal populations

Question 22

Which of the following describes the pH of natural rainfall?

A) very acidic
B) slightly acidic
C) neutral
D) slightly basic
E) very basic

Question 23

Chlorofluorocarbons such as CFC-12 are released into the atmosphere by:

A) smoke stacks.
B) car exhaust.
C) leaking air conditioners and old refrigerators.
D) pesticides.
E) nuclear power plants.

Question 24

The U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require the:

A) development of automobiles with lower nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions.
B) construction of more mass transit systems.
C) elimination of diesel-fueled vehicles.
D) reduction of automobile traffic.
E) reduction of air pollutants in agricultural and rural areas.

Question 25

Electrostatic precipitators, and scrubbers in smokestacks, are used primarily to remove which air pollutant?

A) particulate matter
B) ozone
C) carbon dioxide
D) sulfur dioxide
E) oxygen

Question 26

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Clean Air Act is true?

A) The Clean Air Act of 1970 focused on about 200 air pollutants.
B) The most dramatic improvement in air quality has been a reduction of lead in the atmosphere.
C) Sulfur dioxide emissions since 1970 have been reduced by over 90%.
D) The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, but has not been updated since then.
E) Urban areas have done the best job of meeting the standards for clean air.

Question 27

Which of the following pH values indicates a strong base?

A) pH=3
B) pH=5
C) pH=7
D) pH=9
E) pH=11

Question 28

Which ozone-depleting chemical is not matched with its proper use?

A) chlorofluorocarbons - pesticide
B) halons - fire extinguishers
C) methyl chloroform - industrial solvent
D) carbon tetrachloride - industrial manufacturing
E) methyl bromide - pesticide

Question 29

In the absence of air pollution control devices, which of the following is the most significant source of sulfur dioxide?

A) refrigeration and air conditioning
B) coal-burning power plants
C) motor vehicles
D) fertilizers
E) fire retardants

Question 30

Lead in the atmosphere has decreased significantly since the 1970s primarily due to:

A) new CAFE standards for automobiles.
B) the invention of the catalytic converter.
C) increased use of scrubbers in coal-fired power plants.
D) the phasing out of leaded paint in buildings.
E) replacing leaded gasoline with unleaded gasoline.

Question 31

The average pH of rainfall in the northeastern United States is:

A) < 2.
B) 3 to 4.
C) 5 to 6.
D) 8.
E) 9 to 10.

Question 32

Air pollution is a greater health threat to children than adults because:

A) children need more oxygen than adults.
B) children breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.
C) children have a higher metabolic rate than adults.
D) children's lungs are still developing.
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 33

Which of the following technologies is responsible for reducing carbon monoxide emissions in auto exhaust by over 85%?

A) carburetor
B) catalytic converter
C) muffler
D) alternator
E) engine air filter

Question 34

The agreement which called for a 50% reduction of CFC production by 1998 was the:

A) Copenhagen Protocol.
B) Montreal Protocol.
C) Kyoto Protocol.
D) Boston Protocol.
E) Mexico City Protocol.

Question 35

Which of the following requires the average fuel economy of covered vehicles to be 27.5 miles per gallon by 2020?

A) Clean Air Act (1970)
B) Clean Air Act Amendments (1990)
C) CAFE standards
D) EPA Emissions Testing
E) None of these choices is correct

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT linked to overexposure of UV radiation due to ozone thinning?

A) eye cataracts
B) sterility
C) skin cancer
D) weakened immunity
E) ecosystem disruption

Question 37

Which of the following is the chemical formula for ozone?

A) NO₃
B) O
C) O₂
D) O₃
E) CO₂

Question 38

All of the following are methods of controlling air pollution due to particulate matter EXCEPT:

A) catalytic afterburners.
B) scrubbers.
C) careful land-excavating activities.
D) fabric filters.
E) electrostatic precipitators.

Question 39

Which of the following is a method used to prevent unburned gasoline vapors from being released into the atmosphere?

A) vapor recovery
B) catalytic afterburners
C) vapor isolation
D) volatile emission treatment
E) none of these choices is correct

Question 40

Where was ozone thinning first noticed?

A) North America
B) Europe
C) Antarctica
D) Arctic
E) None of these choices is correct

Question 41

What are the impacts of tobacco smoke on public health? What attempts have been made to reduce exposure to tobacco smoke?

Question 42

The general symptoms of forest decline may include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) reduced vigor.
B) reduced growth.
C) greening of leaves.
D) death of trees.
E) yellowing of needles.

Question 43

Cigarette smoking has been definitively linked to which of the following human health concerns?

A) heart disease
B) emphysema
C) strokes
D) lung cancer
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 44

Discuss measures that have been taken in the United States at the federal level to address the problems of air pollution. What problems have yet to be addressed in these control measures?

Question 45

Explain how people such as the Inuit who live in remote places can be victims of the health effects of air pollution. Use the term global distillation effect and persistent compounds in your answer.

Question 46

What is radon, and what are the health concerns related to radon exposure? Why is radon more of a problem today than in the past?

Question 47

Forest decline can be caused by all of the following EXCEPT:

A) acid deposition.
B) insects.
C) lead.
D) ozone.
E) radon.

Question 48

Describe how acid deposition develops and describe some of the effects of acid deposition.

Question 49

Acid deposition has impacted:

A) the Black Forest of southwestern Germany.
B) The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
C) tree health in the Appalachian Mountains.
D) Adirondacks of New York State.
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 50

A friend tells you there is no reason to worry about the ozone layer. In fact, he says, today's air quality report says there is plenty of ozone around the city. How would you respond?

Question 51

Harm to humans from radon is greatest:

A) in well-insulated homes.
B) near nuclear power plants.
C) in cities.
D) outdoors.
E) in high-rise office buildings.

Question 52

Compare and contrast the air pollution problems in Beijing and Mexico City in terms of causes of the pollution problems, and measures that have been taken to address the air pollution problem in each city.

Question 53

Discuss the major health effects of air pollution on both adults and children.

Question 54

Mexico City has attempted to improve its air quality by:

A) switching to all hybrid vehicles.
B) prohibiting smoking in public areas.
C) increasing gas exports to the United States.
D) replacing buses and taxis with a clean, non-polluting mass transit system.
E) requiring residents to buy new cars.

Question 55

Radon is:

A) a metallic element produced in nuclear power plants.
B) a naturally occurring gas produced during the radioactive decay of uranium.
C) an alpha-emitting gas that penetrates the skin naturally.
D) a secondary air pollutant resulting from photochemical smog.
E) a by-product of nuclear energy production.

Question 56

Identify the difference between primary and secondary sources of air pollution and give two examples of each type of pollution.

Question 57

Dangerous levels of toxic compounds have been measured in pristine arctic regions due to the:

A) many power plants required for power and heat in the winter.
B) migration of birds and marine animals each year.
C) global distillation effect.
D) illegal disposal of waste from urban areas.
E) none of these is correct

Question 58

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water to produce:

A) ozone.
B) hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid.
C) sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
D) sulfur nitrate and nitrogen sulfate.
E) carbonic acid and hydrochloric acid.