Deck 19: Environmental Health

Question 1

Particulate matter is released into the atmosphere by all of the following EXCEPT

A)ultraviolet rays.
B)industrial processes.
C)dust from roadways.
D)combustion of fossil fuels.

Answer 1

ultraviolet rays.

Question 2

Which of the following medical conditions has NOT been linked to air pollution?

A)reduced birth weight
B)reduced lung capacity in teenagers
C)thickening of the arteries in adults
D)decreased bone density in women

Answer 2

decreased bone density in women

Question 3

The EPA's Air Quality Index measures all of the following EXCEPT

A)carbon monoxide.
B)natural gas.
C)particulate matter.
D)nitrogen dioxide.

Answer 3

natural gas.

Question 4

A major contributor to loss of habitat and species extinction is

A)growing rural populations.
B)nuclear power.
C)tourism.
D)improved farming methods.

Question 5

Which of the following factors causes women to have fewer children,consistent across sub-Saharan Africa,Asia,and Latin America?

A)lack of natural resources
B)political participation
C)religious practice
D)higher education

Question 6

Which of the following statements about air pollution is FALSE?

A)Research has linked exposure to air pollution to reduced birth weight in infants.
B)Air pollution causes roughly 200,000 deaths in the United States each year.
C)Atherosclerosis in adults is linked to air pollution.
D)The Air Quality Index considers CO,which occurs naturally,the least harmful of key air pollutants.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about factors contributing to population growth is FALSE?

A)Families in developing countries may have more children to ensure enough survive childhood to work for the household.
B)Half the world's couples do not use any form of family planning.
C)Death rates have decreased in the developing world due to improved public health measures.
D)Poverty and high child mortality rates are associated with low fertility rates in developing countries.

Question 8

The United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity estimates that demand for resources

A)is decreasing overall due to technological improvements.
B)will exceed the earth's capacity by 2020.
C)already exceeds the earth's capacity by 20 percent.
D)can continue to grow without negative consequences.

Question 9

Ground-level ozone has been linked with all of the following EXCEPT

A)damage to the lining of the lungs.
B)aggravation of asthma.
C)impaired vision.
D)reduced lung function.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about factors in world population growth is FALSE?

A)There is currently enough food produced to feed the world's entire population.
B)About half the world's energy currently comes from renewable sources.
C)World population growth is the driving force behind many recent environmental concerns.
D)High child mortality rates in the developing world are associated with high fertility rates.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about the field of environmental health is FALSE?

A)It has focused on preventing infectious diseases spread by water,waste,food,rodents,and insects.
B)It encompasses all the interactions of humans and their environment and the health consequences of these interactions.
C)Environmental pollutants contribute to infectious diseases but not to chronic diseases.
D)Advancements in technology have contributed to our ability to both affect and damage the environment.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a factor that directly affects population control?

A)fertility rates
B)habitat destruction
C)death rates
D)availability of family planning

Question 13

The United Nations projects that world population will reach 9.3 billion by

A)2020.
B)2050.
C)2075.
D)2100.

Question 14

World population is increasing at the approximate rate of 80 million people per

A)week.
B)month.
C)year.
D)decade.

Question 15

Which of the following contributes the LEAST to direct air pollution through their occurrence or operation?

A)forest fires
B)battery-powered golf carts
C)pollen blooms
D)dust storms

Question 16

Sustainable development refers to development that meets society's current needs and

A)maintains a consistent energy-in energy-out balance annually.
B)does not impede future generations from meeting theirs.
C)caps energy use at current annual levels.
D)gradually reduces energy use over time.

Question 17

The Air Quality Index measures the

A)level of carbon monoxide over the previous ten days.
B)deterioration in the ozone layer.
C)concentration of five air pollutants of concern to health.
D)amount that visibility is diminished by smog.

Question 18

For the first time in history,there are

A)more young children than parents.
B)more older people than young children.
C)more young children than older people.
D)more older people than parents.

Question 19

What is generally believed to be responsible for most of the stress humans put on the environment?

A)air pollution
B)water pollution
C)dependence on nuclear power
D)rapid population growth

Question 20

An Air Quality Index reading of 105 means the air quality is considered

A)good,posing little or no risk to sensitive groups.
B)acceptable for all but the most highly sensitive groups.
C)unhealthy for certain sensitive groups.
D)very unhealthy for all people,resulting in a public health alert.

Question 21

The greenhouse effect contributes directly to

A)acid rain.
B)global warming.
C)ecological homeostasis.
D)smog.

Question 22

Key greenhouse gases include all of the following EXCEPT

A)helium.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)chlorofluorocarbons.
D)methane.

Question 23

Exposure to _______________ can cause headaches,chronic bronchitis,dizziness,fatigue,and death.

A)pollen
B)volatile organic compounds
C)carbon monoxide
D)asbestos

Question 24

The most obvious depletion of the ozone layer has occurred over

A)Antarctica.
B)the United States.
C)the equator.
D)Africa.

Question 25

Of the following diseases,the thinning of the ozone layer is most likely to increase the incidence of

A)lung cancer.
B)lymphoma.
C)skin cancer.
D)leukemia.

Question 26

Levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases are rising in large part because of

A)combustion of fossil fuels.
B)water pollution.
C)acid rain.
D)the destruction of the ozone layer.

Question 27

Which of the following statements about global warming is TRUE?

A)Global warming will be evenly distributed around the globe.
B)Oceans will warm more than land areas will warm.
C)High latitudes will warm more than low latitudes.
D)The earth's surface temperature is not expected to increase in this century.

Question 28

Which of the following statements about energy use and pollution is TRUE?

A)Energy consumption has little to do with environmental problems such as air pollution.
B)Nuclear power creates energy without producing pollution.
C)The mining of coal causes pollution on land and is a serious health problem.
D)Off-shore oil drilling poses few risks to regional ecosystems.

Question 29

Which of the following is an acronym for a recently introduced type of vehicle that has a high fuel economy rating?

A)SUV
B)AQI
C)HEV
D)CFC

Question 30

The key component of smog is

A)sulfur dioxide.
B)particulate matter.
C)carbon monoxide.
D)ground-level ozone.

Question 31

If the greenhouse effect does raise temperatures worldwide,it is predicted that all of the following will happen EXCEPT

A)change in the location of vegetation zones.
B)increased mortality from heat stress.
C)changes in weather,including increased flooding and drought in various areas.
D)falling sea levels and lower rainfall in coastal zones.

Question 32

The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere

A)shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
B)facilitates temperature inversions.
C)maintains the pH of rain.
D)is the key component of smog.

Question 33

One potential drawback with the use of ethanol as an alternative energy source is that it

A)diverts corn crops from the food supply.
B)is a nonrenewable energy source.
C)will increase greenhouse gas emissions.
D)cannot be produced in the United States.

Question 34

About what percentage of energy used in the United States comes from fossil fuels?

A)25 percent
B)59 percent
C)84 percent
D)96 percent

Question 35

A gas or vapor that traps infrared radiation instead of allowing it to escape through the atmosphere is called a(n)

A)air stagnator.
B)temperature inversion column.
C)greenhouse gas.
D)global-warming ozone.

Question 36

Environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of all of the following EXCEPT

A)cardiovascular disease.
B)bronchitis.
C)asthma.
D)skin cancer.

Question 37

_______________ are the biggest energy consumers.

A)Russians
B)Europeans
C)Americans
D)Chinese

Question 38

Release of _______________ into the atmosphere is the primary cause of the depletion of the ozone layer.

A)chlorofluorocarbons
B)fluorine
C)PCBs
D)ethanol

Question 39

Which of the following does NOT make smog more likely to form?

A)heavy motor vehicle traffic
B)high temperatures
C)sunny weather
D)strong winds

Question 40

Which of the following statements about the earth's polar ice caps is TRUE?

A)By 2030,the polar ice could melt away completely during the summer months.
B)Since 2007,there has been less polar ice melting than there was from 2000 to 2006.
C)Experts now believe that polar ice melting will not be a problem for future generations.
D)Polar ice melts help to stabilize global weather patterns.

Question 41

All of the following are simple steps for protecting the water supply EXCEPT

A)taking showers instead of baths.
B)watering lawns and garden plants in the mid-afternoon.
C)fixing leaky faucets.
D)not pouring old medicines down the drain.

Question 42

Contact with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)has been linked to certain types of

A)immune deficiencies.
B)dementia.
C)cancer.
D)birth defects.

Question 43

Sewage sludge is sometimes used as a fertilizer,unless it is contaminated with

A)heavy metals.
B)high concentrations of water purifiers.
C)high concentrations of fluoride.
D)agricultural chemicals.

Question 44

You can help reduce air pollution by doing all of the following EXCEPT

A)cutting back on driving.
B)making sure your home is well-insulated.
C)planting and caring for trees.
D)using fluorescent tubes for lighting.

Question 45

Which of the following communities is noted for having been contaminated with toxic industrial wastes?

A)Roswell,NV
B)Cleveland,Ohio
C)Passaic,NJ
D)Love Canal,NY

Question 46

All of the following contribute to degradation of the ozone layer EXCEPT

A)the industrial chemicals in many refrigerators and air conditioners.
B)most currently-available commercial aerosol sprays.
C)some types of rigid foam insulation.
D)the chemicals in some solvents.

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT considered "e-waste"?

A)old computers
B)old televisions
C)used computer paper
D)old cell phones

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a recommended way for reducing solid waste?

A)Bring your own ceramic coffee mug and metal utensils to work.
B)Buy products with the least amount of packaging.
C)Use foil or plastic wraps to store food.
D)Start a compost pile for your organic garbage.

Question 49

According to the World Health Organization,approximately _______________ people do not have access to safe drinking water.

A)800 million
B)6 million
C)1.1 billion
D)2.3 billion

Question 50

Which of the following statements about the contamination of drinking water with medications is accurate?

A)The EPA believes that current contamination levels of medication in drinking water are not harmful to humans but may harm fish and aquatic organisms.
B)Human excretion of medications accounts for 90 percent of the content in the water supply.
C)The drinking water of up to 80 percent of Americans is contaminated with trace amounts of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
D)The EPA believes there will be no actionable way to remove medications from the water supply.

Question 51

A product that can break down naturally and safely into the raw materials of nature and become a part of the environment again is

A)biodegradable.
B)recyclable.
C)compostable.
D)abiotic.

Question 52

In _______________,the waste material from one product is used as the raw material to produce a new product.

A)recycling
B)composting
C)biodegradation
D)sanitary landfills

Question 53

Which of the following is TRUE about U.S.water systems?

A)No Americans have died from contaminated water in the last 10 years.
B)Hazardous chemicals from manufacturing no longer infiltrate water systems in the United States.
C)In most areas of the United States,water systems supply adequate,dependable,and safe water.
D)Water shortages are not a concern in the United States.

Question 54

The respiratory disease most closely associated with asbestos is

A)lung cancer.
B)black lung disease.
C)brown lung disease.
D)bronchitis.

Question 55

In the United States,the biggest component of household trash by weight is

A)plastics.
B)paper products.
C)lawn waste.
D)metals.

Question 56

The water treatment that helps reduce tooth decay is

A)filtration.
B)disinfection.
C)chlorination.
D)fluoridation.

Question 57

Water is usually disinfected by using

A)fluoride.
B)chlorine.
C)filtration.
D)screening.

Question 58

Sanitary landfills are primarily used to dispose of

A)radioactive waste.
B)solid waste.
C)sewage.
D)recyclables.

Question 59

A self-contained sewage disposal system is a

A)slush system.
B)sluice system.
C)septic system.
D)drain field.

Question 60

One of the most important strategies for reducing the problem of solid waste is

A)land burial.
B)burning.
C)sea burial.
D)reduced consumption.

Question 61

The field of environmental health grew out of efforts to control communicable disease.

Question 62

If Alec wants to reduce the chance that he will contribute to a major smog occurrence,he should limit his driving time/distance in all of the following areas or conditions EXCEPT

A)sunny weather.
B)times of heaviest traffic.
C)cold weather.
D)a valley surrounded by mountains.

Question 63

The United States has a relatively small percentage of the world's population but uses one-fourth of the world's energy.

Question 64

Because of his asthma,Alec should limit his outdoor exertion time when the AQI value exceeds _______________.

A)50
B)100
C)150
D)300

Question 65

An environmentally friendly driving style includes all of the following EXCEPT

A)limiting the use of air conditioning.
B)staying within the speed limit.
C)avoiding quick starts.
D)keeping tires slightly underinflated.

Question 66

DDT was banned in the United States in 1972 after it was

A)found to have a negative impact on bird reproduction and bioaccumulation in large animals.
B)blamed for several child deaths in a farming community in British Columbia.
C)connected with cancer diagnoses in agricultural communities across America.
D)tested by the Food and Drug Administration and shown to be a direct contributor to the growth in cases of ADHD.

Question 67

The form of radiation that poses the most serious risk to human health is _______________ radiation.

A)microwave
B)infrared
C)gamma
D)X-ray

Question 68

Pollen is a form of air pollution.

Question 69

The pesticide DDT contributed to the control of

A)insect-borne disease in tropical countries.
B)Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
C)smallpox.
D)diphtheria.

Question 70

Which of the following is likely to emit the lowest amount of greenhouse gases?

A)an SUV
B)an HEV
C)a conventional midsized car
D)a conventional compact car

Question 71

When toxic or potentially toxic substances build up in the food chain,the process is called

A)vector transmission.
B)biomagnification.
C)bioloading.
D)radiation sickness.

Question 72

Eating large amounts of which of the following foods can expose you to high levels of mercury?

A)farm-raised beef
B)imported pork
C)chicken
D)large fish

Question 73

Most of the world's energy comes from nonrenewable sources.

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT a recommended way to reduce chemical pollution?

A)using nontoxic,nonpetrochemical personal and household products
B)disposing of household hazardous wastes properly
C)storing toxic household products out of the reach of children and pets
D)buying meat,poultry,and produce grown outside your local area

Question 75

One naturally occurring metal found in some foods and consumer products that has been linked to brain,kidney,and gastrointestinal tract damage is

A)mercury.
B)silver.
C)aluminum.
D)iron.

Question 76

Sulfur dioxide is produced primarily by motor vehicles.

Question 77

Which of the following statements about poverty and health is FALSE?

A)Residents living in poor neighborhoods are often exposed to more environmental toxins than residents living in wealthier communities.
B)Poor neighborhoods are common sites for hazardous waste production.
C)Studies show that children from wealthy families have higher concentrations of lead in their blood than do children from poor families.
D)Asthma is a growing problem in poor families.

Question 78

Which one of the following statements about the effects of noise is FALSE?

A)Permanent hearing loss can occur from prolonged exposure to sounds above 80-85 decibels.
B)Children may suffer damage to their hearing at noise levels lower than when adults would suffer damage.
C)Permanent hearing loss occurs within the first 2 hours of exposure to sounds above 60 decibels.
D)OSHA sets legal standards for noise levels in the workplace.

Question 79

Which of the following pollutants causes central nervous system damage and mental impairment and is a particular risk for children living in older homes and buildings?

A)asbestos
B)carbon monoxide
C)formaldehyde gas
D)lead

Question 80

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas.