Question 1

In the United States,if you are concerned about an infectious disease such as the bird flu,the most reliable source of information would be the

Accepted Answer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the leading national public health institute of the United States and provides reliable information on infectious diseases.

Question 2

Which of the following is a good example of a cultural hazard to public health?

Accepted Answer

Cultural hazards to public health often involve lifestyle choices and behaviors that can lead to health issues. In this case, choosing to eat a high-fat diet and not exercising, which leads to obesity, is a good example of a cultural hazard.

Question 3

During a January storm in Vermont,a highway truck crashes and spills 3 tons of rock salt onto the side of the road,covering grasses and tumbling down to a creek.Learning about this accident,you wonder about the environmental consequences.This sort of salt naturally occurs in the soil.According to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency's definition of pollution,this spill would be considered as a

Accepted Answer

Although rock salt is a natural substance, the quantity of salt spilled in this incident can have negative impacts on the environment, such as disrupting the local ecosystem and potentially contaminating the water in the creek. Therefore, the spill should be cleaned up as much as possible to reduce the environmental impact.

Question 4

The causes of mortality differ greatly between developing and developed countries.In developing countries,a high proportion of mortality is caused by

Accepted Answer

In developing countries, infectious diseases are a major cause of mortality due to factors like inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation, and lack of access to clean water. In contrast, in developed countries, the majority of deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases often related to voluntary behaviors such as smoking, diet, and exercise, rather than infectious diseases.

Question 5

Even if people cannot easily spread bird flu from person to person,how might bird flu virus spread in the world?

Accepted Answer

Migrating birds have been identified as one of the primary modes of transmission for the bird flu virus. Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are known to carry the virus without showing symptoms and can spread the virus to domesticated birds or other wildlife that come into contact with infected droppings or nasal secretions. From there, the virus can spread to other regions through the movement of infected animals or contaminated materials. This is why bird flu outbreaks tend to be geographically linked to migratory patterns of infected birds. Vaccines against bird flu are meant to prevent the spread of the virus, not cause it. Antibiotics are not useful against viruses, including bird flu. While hunting infected birds could result in transmission to humans, it is not one of the primary ways in which the virus spreads globally.

Question 6

The concern about human-to-human transmission of bird flu is most closely monitored by

Accepted Answer

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are the two primary organizations that closely monitor and respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases, including bird flu. They work together to detect and control outbreaks, conduct research, provide public health guidance, and coordinate international efforts to prevent the spread of diseases. While national governments also have a role to play in monitoring and responding to outbreaks, the WHO and CDC have a global mandate and are well-equipped to help countries prepare and respond to pandemics. The other two options, the World Wide Institute for Infectious Disease and International Centers for Health and Human Disease, do not exist.

Question 7

The H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009-2010 resulted in the immunization of millions of people.When the immunizations were first available,people under 25 or over 65 were given priority.This was done because H1N1

Accepted Answer

The given information states that people under 25 or over 65 were given priority for the H1N1 vaccine. This was because these age groups were most vulnerable to the hazard, putting them at the greatest risk. Hence, option B is the correct answer. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not correctly represent the given information.

Question 8

As depicted in the film Contagion,isolated viral outbreaks can quickly become global threats if the virus is easily

Accepted Answer

The film Contagion shows how a viral outbreak can quickly become a global threat if the virus is easily transferred between people who then travel widely while infected. The virus spreads rapidly as people move around the world, and it becomes difficult to contain the outbreak. Isolating infected individuals can be effective in controlling the spread of the virus, but if the virus is easily transmitted between people who then travel widely while infected, it can still quickly become a global threat.

Question 9

Which of the following types of pollution became much more common in the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following types of pollution...

Question 10

Studying environmental biology has got you thinking about what you do with your kitchen wastes,the discarded egg shells,orange and banana peels,coffee grounds,etc.Living at the edge of town,you have several options.Which of the following would be the least efficient (or slowest)way to allow natural decay of your kitchen wastes?

Accepted Answer

Collecting kitchen garbage in small plastic bags and disposing of it in a large city landfill is the least efficient method for natural decay because plastic bags significantly slow down the decomposition process by limiting exposure to air and microorganisms essential for breaking down organic matter.

Question 11

Risk in environmental health is most related to

Accepted Answer

Risk in environmental health is a combination of hazards and vulnerability. Hazards refer to the potential for harm or danger from exposure to toxins, pollutants, or other harmful substances, while vulnerability refers to the susceptibility or sensitivity of the individual or population to these hazards. The level of risk is calculated by multiplying the hazards by the vulnerability, which yields the likelihood and severity of adverse health effects. Therefore, C is the correct choice.

Question 12

People suffering from AIDS have a weakened immune system.Because of their disease,AIDS patients are

Accepted Answer

AIDS patients have a weakened immune system, making them more vulnerable to bacterial infections. Bacteria that are typically not harmful to healthy people can cause serious infections in those with weakened immunity. The risk of nitrogen in the air is not directly related to AIDS, and AIDS patients are actually more vulnerable to fungal and viral infections as well.

Question 13

Biologists advising park rangers wondered how best to dispose of human wastes with the potential of transmitting diarrhea at remote camping sites along a turbulent river.Every year thousands of people canoe down the river and are required to stay at predetermined campsites.These remote locations are not accessible by road or any large boat.Which of the following strategies of managing human waste would have the least impact on the environment?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging the use of biodegradable bags for solid waste minimizes environmental impact by preventing contamination and facilitating safe disposal, while urinating in a turbulent river is less impactful due to dilution and natural breakdown processes.

Question 14

Over the past 50 years,global life expectancy has

Accepted Answer

Global life expectancy has risen by more than 20 years over the past 50 years due to improvements in healthcare and nutrition worldwide. This is evident from the fact that many diseases that were once fatal can now be treated, and access to healthcare has increased in many parts of the world. Additionally, advances in nutrition have helped reduce malnutrition, which is a major cause of mortality in many developing countries.

Question 15

Which of the following is the least biodegradable?

Accepted Answer

Glass beer bottles are the least biodegradable among the options given. Glass takes an extremely long time to break down naturally, often estimated at over a million years, unlike organic materials like paper and leaves or even synthetic polymers that may degrade more readily under certain conditions.

Question 16

Which of the following is a good example of a physical hazard to public health?

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are considered physical hazards because they involve a physical process that can lead to injury, death, and destruction of property, directly impacting public health through physical means.

Question 17

The greatest public health concerns about the H5N1 bird flu virus,as recently highlighted in the potentially dangerous dual-use experiments,is that it will

Accepted Answer

The greatest public health concern about the H5N1 bird flu virus, as highlighted in the dual-use experiments, is that it will mutate to become transmissible from person to person. This would greatly increase the risk of a global pandemic, as it would allow the virus to spread rapidly from one person to another, potentially causing millions of deaths. While the virus can be spread from birds to humans, this is not the primary concern, as it is currently not very contagious among humans. The focus of public health efforts has therefore been on preventing the virus from becoming transmissible between humans.

Question 18

In the winter in North America,the common cold often shows

Accepted Answer

The common cold typically has a high incidence or morbidity rate during the winter months in North America, meaning that many individuals contract the virus. However, the mortality rate associated with the common cold is generally low, particularly in otherwise healthy individuals.

Question 19

A recent study indicated that more than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic,meaning that they

Accepted Answer

Zoonotic pathogens are those that can be transmitted between animals and humans. This means that they can infect both humans and animals, and can potentially spread from one to the other. The study mentioned in the question suggests that more than 60% of all human pathogens fall into this category, indicating the importance of understanding and controlling zoonotic diseases. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe what it means for a pathogen to be zoonotic.

Question 20

The Centers for Disease Control employs many people who study epidemiology.These people might be interested in

Accepted Answer

Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and can be prevented, so those who work in this field are primarily focused on identifying, tracking, and preventing infectious diseases. The other options (identifying new types of infectious disease, prevention of infectious disease, and worldwide distribution of infectious disease) are related to epidemiology, but are not as directly related to the work that epidemiologists do.

Quiz 17: Environmental Hazards and Human Health