Deck 6: Environmental Health

Question 1

The employee health nurse working for a large urban construction company examines the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily to determine if there are any risks for workers. Today the AQI measures 120 for the city. This means that for employees she will need to:
1)Take no action, because the air quality is good.
2)Take action to inform the employees that the air quality is acceptable, but for some pollutants there may be health concerns.
3)Take action to inform the employees the air quality is hazardous for everyone in the community.
4)Take action to inform employees that air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Answer 1

4

Question 2

A nursing instructor is holding a lecture on environmental health and explaining that gene environment interaction:
1)Can directly cause diabetes, pulmonary disease, and breast cancer.
2)Can change the expression of a genetic trait and alter physical aspects.
3)Can have either a protective influence or increase risk for many diseases.
4)Does not demonstrate any noticeable effect from the environment.

Answer 2

3

Question 3

The public health nursing student learns that the need for environmental justice extends to disadvantaged populations, who, as a result of low income, age, health status, race, or other social indices of susceptibility, are at greatest risk of exposure to environmental hazards because of which of the following problems? (Select all that apply.)
1)Substandard housing
2)Lack of access to health care
3)Lack of nutritious food
4)Lack of safe places to play
5)Employment in risky jobs

Answer 3

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Question 4

A nurse working the evening shift in the emergency department has been assigned a patient who arrived with a chief complaint of difficulty breathing after mixing household cleaning products. The nurse recognizes that this patient is suffering from exposure to which type of environmental hazard?
1)Biological
2)Mixed
3)Physical
4)Chemical

Question 5

A family survived a dangerous weather event, but now they are suffering through another part of environmental risk: stress, pain, and anxiety. The nurse recognizes that these are the:
1)Physical agents.
2)Mixed exposures.
3)Psychosocial factors.
4)Biological agents.

Question 6

The PHN understands that the toxicity of chemicals in children is more severe than that in older populations because of which of the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
1)Children play in outdoor soil, which can be contaminated.
2)Children may ingest substances from unlabeled, repurposed food containers.
3)Children have faster rates of absorption of toxic substances.
4)In urban settings, children may not have adequate places to play.
5)Children have less developed immune systems.

Question 7

A PHN newly hired by a large urban hospital to run their employee health program decided to take a refresher course on how to do exposure risk assessments, which are used by policy makers and other regulators to evaluate the health effects from an environmental exposure. In these assessments, the final step in the process involves making a judgment about the risk of health problems to those who are exposed. The nurse learns that this is referred to as a(n):
1)Dose-response assessment.
2)Risk characterization.
3)Hazard identification.
4)Exposure assessment.

Question 8

The health effects of the 2018 Camp Fire on the firefighters and residents of the area demonstrate the relationship between environmental health and personal health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of environmental health, the factors external to a person, and related factors that impact behaviors that are addressed in environmental health include all but which of the following?
1)Physical
2)Chemical
3)Biological
4)Governmental

Question 9

The nurse epidemiologist at a local health department receives a report that a number of children have elevated lead blood levels. She rules out a number of possible reasons and begins to focus on the local water supply because there had been a change in the water supply. She contacts the epidemiologists that worked on the Flint, Michigan, event. They recommended that she follow the steps they took in their investigation. Their investigation included examining these phases related to the exposure:
1)Prior to the switch, after the switch to the Flint River, after the boil advisory, and after the switch back to the original water source.
2)After the switch to the Flint River, after the boil advisory, after the switch back to the original water source, and after the public health alert.
3)Prior to the switch, after the switch to the Flint River, and after the switch back to the original water source.
4)Prior to the switch, after the boil advisory, and after the switch back to the original water source.

Question 10

Particulate matter varies in size, and the size determines the site of the deposition in the respiratory system. This means:
1)The larger the particulate, the more hazardous it is.
2)The smaller the particulate, the more hazardous it is.
3)The size of the particulate is not important.
4)The lungs and dust masks can take care of the particulates.

Question 11

A PHN knows that the ambient air standard, which is the highest level of a pollutant in a specific place over a specific period of time that is not hazardous for humans, is most influenced by:
1)Wind patterns.
2)Weather conditions.
3)Population in the area.
4)The surrounding built environment.

Question 12

While doing a physical assessment of an older adult, the nurse is concerned about the patient's history of work exposure to toxic chemicals over his lifetime. Based on reports, the levels of toxin were within normal limits, but the patient had worked in the plant for 50 years. What aspect of the exposure is she most worried about?
1)Half-life
2)Bioaccumulation
3)Latency period
4)Environmental exposure

Question 13

John, the nurse manager in a large urban emergency department, was alerted to a number of patients who had come in with a possible exposure to a toxic substance. He begins with the epidemiological triangle to help understand:
1)How the environment brings an agent and host together.
2)How the environment plays a role in the health of individuals, families, and communities.
3)The role of water, air, and waste in environmental health.
4)Both A and B

Question 14

To aid a lower income family who is struggling with a pest problem in their home, a PHN recommends a program known as integrated pest management, which offers methods to deter pests. Some of these methods include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
1)Caulking and sealing cracks and holes in the home
2)Eating in one place
3)Getting rid of clutter
4)Storing food in sealed containers
5)Making sure the family is vaccinated

Question 15

The PHN realizes that the mere presence of an agent, even if it is known to have toxic properties, does not necessarily mean there is a risk to health. Whether or not there is an adverse response to a toxin is primarily influenced by all but which of the following:
1)Its inherent toxicity, that is, ability to cause harm to humans
2)Whether it enters the body and reaches susceptible organs
3)The amount that is present
4)The route of exposure

Question 16

A PHN is working with a team doing a community assessment. She has been tasked with evaluating the community's access to grocery stores, accessible transportation, outside activities, and the maintenance of its neighborhood buildings. The nurse is evaluating the:
1)Environmental stability.
2)Built environment.
3)Ecological approach.
4)Environmental health.

Question 17

A PHN is helping to manage a decrease in air quality due to emissions from a chemical plant. Which term best describes the source of the decrease in air quality?
1)Point source
2)Mobile source
3)Area source
4)Community Source

Question 18

A nursing instructor is giving a lecture on environmental sustainability. The instructor explains that this is a critical issue to the global environment and an important emerging public health issue. Some of the issues addressed within environmental sustainability include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
1)Preventing environmental exposure
2)Maintaining the funding for research and development for alternative energy
3)The rates in which renewable resources are harvested
4)The rates of depletion of nonrenewable resources
5)The creation of pollution that can continue for an indefinite period of time

Question 19

Access to potable water has increased globally over the past decade. The WHO predicts that by 2025 50% of the world's population will:
1)Have access to potable water.
2)Live in water stressed areas.
3)Be at risk for waterborne contaminates.
4)None of the above.