Deck 28: Air Pollution the Youngest Scientists

Question 1

Particulate matter is a common cause of respiratory disease because it ____________.

A)alters lung cell DNA and causes cancer
B)irritates the lining of the respiratory system and causes inflammation
C)physically blocks the lungs from properly processing oxygen
D)causes red blood cells to not take up oxygen as efficiently
E)can enter the circulatory system and physically block blood flow

Answer 1

irritates the lining of the respiratory system and causes inflammation

Question 2

Refer to Infographic 1.The World Health Organization recognizes air pollution as a major threat to human health.Approximately how many people around the world die each year from air pollution? Why do you think India and China have a higher percentage of deaths due to air pollution?

Answer 2

Air pollution is responsible for at least 5.5 million deaths annually.In India and China,industrialization is happening rapidly,and air pollution regulations are not as strict as in the United States.

Question 3

Which compound is a secondary air pollutant?

A)sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)
B)carbon dioxide (CO₂)
C)particulate matter
D)sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
E)carbon monoxide (CO)

Answer 3

sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄)

Question 4

Particulate pollution includes all of the following EXCEPT _______.

A)dust
B)soot
C)carbon dioxide
D)small,suspended droplets (aerosols)
E)pollen

Question 5

Why is ground-level ozone considered to be an air pollutant,while stratospheric ozone is not? How is ground-level ozone formed?

Question 6

Power plants are often built in neighborhoods where residents have less ability to fight for their rights.This is a violation of ___________.

A)environmental regulations
B)EPA protocol
C)environmental justice
D)transboundary jurisdiction
E)deposition principles

Question 7

________ is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases in the United States and other developed nations and a major cause of childhood disability.

A)Arthritis
B)Heart disease
C)Lung cancer
D)Asthma
E)Skin cancer

Question 8

What is the biggest health problem associated with air pollution?

A)respiratory ailments
B)burns
C)flulike symptoms
D)birth defects
E)cancers

Question 9

What are two anthropogenic sources of outdoor air pollution? What are two natural sources of outdoor air pollution? Also list at least two of the major primary pollutants associated with these sources.

Question 10

Which of the following sources of outdoor air pollution is anthropogenic?

A)sandstorms
B)volcanic eruptions
C)controlled burns
D)wildfires

Question 11

Which of the following is FALSE regarding asthma?

A)Developing nations are seeing a rise in asthma,especially in urban centers.
B)Asthma is a respiratory ailment marked by inflammation and constriction of the narrow airways of the lungs.
C)In the United States,asthma is the leading cause of school absences.
D)In the United States,the incidence of asthma more than doubled from 1980 to the mid-1990s.
E)None of these answers are false; all of these statements regarding asthma are true.

Question 12

You are driving a car.The emissions coming out of the automobile tailpipe are considered to be _________.

A)a point source
B)ozone
C)ground-level ozone
D)primary air pollutants
E)secondary air pollutants

Question 13

The World Health Organization estimates that more than _______ people die prematurely each year as a result of exposure to air pollution.

A)500,000
B)1 million
C)4 million
D)5.5 million
E)8 million

Question 14

Air pollutants that are formed when primary air pollutants react with one another or other chemicals in the air are called _________.

A)nonpoint sources
B)point sources
C)primary air pollutants
D)secondary air pollutants

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a primary pollutant that can contribute to the formation of secondary air pollution?

A)forest fires
B)dust storms
C)agriculture
D)ground-level ozone
E)All of these answers contribute to the formation of secondary air pollution.

Question 16

________ is any material added to the atmosphere that harms organisms,affects the climate,or impacts structures.

A)Asthma
B)An environmental insult
C)Air pollution
D)Acid deposition
E)Airborne respiration

Question 17

Air pollutants released directly from any source are considered to be which of the following?

A)ozone
B)ground-level ozone
C)primary air pollutants
D)secondary air pollutants

Question 18

Why are children in low-income families at a higher risk for asthma than those in wealthier families?

A)Their parents are less likely to be able to afford proper medical care.
B)Their homes and schools are often located near major roads or factories.
C)They have poor diets.
D)They purchase more products that contribute to indoor air pollution.
E)Their schools are poorly ventilated.

Question 19

Sources of sulfur dioxide (SO₂)air pollution include __________.

A)point sources
B)nonpoint sources
C)volcanoes
D)coal-burning power plants
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 20

Air pollution can cause which of the following conditions?

A)ground-level ozone
B)water pollution
C)asthma
D)tissue damage in plants
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 21

Which nutrients are leached from soil due to acid rain?

A)aluminum
B)potassium
C)ozone
D)nitrogen
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 22

What did the results of Thurston's study of fifth graders and air pollution show?

A)Children living or going to school closer to highways were exposed to more air pollution and had more severe respiratory symptoms.
B)Children living or going to school closer to highways were not exposed to more air pollution but had more severe respiratory symptoms.
C)Children living or going to school closer to highways were not exposed to more air pollution and did not have more severe respiratory symptoms.
D)Children living or going to school closer to highways were exposed to more air pollution but did not have more severe respiratory symptoms. E,Children living or going to school closer to highways were exposed to the same air pollution as other children but did have more severe respiratory symptoms.

Question 23

Acid deposition results from burning fossil fuels that release ___________ that react in the atmosphere to form acids that fall back to Earth as acid rain,snow,and fog.

A)sulfur and nitrogen oxides
B)lead and mercury
C)carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides
D)VOC and sulfur oxides
E)lead and VOC

Question 24

Which of the following is FALSE related to the health consequences of air pollution?

A)Anything that impairs the lungs also harms the cardiovascular system.
B)People living areas with higher air pollution have lower rates of heart attacks and strokes.
C)Exposure to radon is one of the leading environmental causes of lung cancer.
D)Exposure to smog and vehicle emissions is linked to increased risk of breast cancer.
E)All of these statements are true.

Question 25

Which form of air pollution is acid rain?

A)secondary air pollutant
B)primary air pollutant
C)point source
D)nonpoint source
E)ground-level pollution

Question 26

Go to the EPA's Air Quality Index ( HYPERLINK "http://www.airnow.gov/" http://www.airnow.gov/).Look at the air quality for the area in which you live (both current and archived).Does any of this information surprise you? Now,research an area that you think would have a high level of air pollution and one that you think would have a low level.Do the results surprise you?

Question 27

Which is FALSE regarding pollutants defined as hazardous by the EPA?

A)Even in small doses,they can have adverse effects on human health.
B)They include volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
C)They may cause cancer or developmental defects.
D)All of these statements are true.
E)None of these statements are true.

Question 28

What is it about the nature of the human lung that makes it so vulnerable to air pollution? Further,how does damage to respiratory tissue serve as a gateway to other kinds of human health problems?

Question 29

Which statement about VOCs is FALSE?

A)"VOC" stands for volatile organic compound.
B)VOCs readily evaporate and dissolve in water.
C)VOCs are released by bogs.
D)The main outdoor source of VOCs is fossil fuel combustion.

Question 30

Refer to Infographic 4 and the pH values of precipitation in the U.S.Why are pH values for precipitation lower (more acidic)in the eastern part of the United States? What contributed to the improvement in conditions between 1994 and 2009?

Question 31

Acid deposition can come in which form?

A)rain
B)sleet
C)snow
D)fog
E)Acid deposition can come in any of these forms.

Question 32

Which statement about acid deposition is TRUE?

A)Acid deposition is a local problem in that only areas that produce air pollution feel the effects of acid deposition.
B)Acid deposition occurs only through rain,snow,or fog.
C)Acid deposition causes plants to take up the now-available aluminum,which is detrimental to the plant.
D)Acid deposition causes the pH level to rise in affected lakes.

Question 33

The finding that minority communities face more exposure to pollution than their socioeconomically identical Caucasian counterparts is an example of ____________.

A)environmental justice
B)EPA protocol
C)environmental racism
D)EPA-criteria pollutants
E)poor city planning

Question 34

Why do lower-income and minority areas often have some of the worst outdoor air quality?

Question 35

Even the most isolated regions on Earth are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution because atmospheric and hydrologic circulation moves chemical and particulate pollutants around the globe.This is an example of ___________.

A)environmental injustice
B)transboundary pollution
C)environmental racism
D)internal costs

Question 36

A study conducted by Brown University found a person's risk for developing cancer from exposure to polluted air ______ as income _________.

A)increased; increased
B)increased; decreased
C)decreased; increased
D)decreased; decreased
E)stayed the same; increased

Question 37

Why is looking at the local air pollution level not a good indicator of the health of various ecosystems in that area?

Question 38

Which of the following is a consequence of acid deposition?

A)reduced nutrient uptake by plants
B)acidified lakes
C)dying forests
D)released aluminum from soils
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 39

Which of the following animals are especially vulnerable to acidification of their habitat?

A)deer
B)owls
C)frogs
D)bears
E)songbirds

Question 40

Which air pollutant is NOT regulated by the EPA?

A)lead
B)ground-level ozone
C)volatile organic compounds (VOC)
D)sulfur dioxide
E)All of these answers are regulated by the EPA.

Question 41

Which of the following indoor air pollutants is correctly matched to its source?

A)radon―tobacco smoke
B)cooking―particulates
C)VOCs―poorly ventilated furnaces
D)chlorine―damp basements
E)carbon monoxide―soaps and cleaners

Question 42

Compare and contrast the health risks associated with indoor air pollution in developed versus developing countries.

Question 43

According to Kirk Smith,a professor of environmental health at the University of California,Berkeley,indoor fires increase risks of pneumonia,tuberculosis,lung cancer,and low birth weight in babies born of women exposed during pregnancy.What simple solution is being widely promoted to reduce this risk of death?

A)preparing meals using solar cookers
B)switching from wood to burning crop waste as a fuel source
C)adding more windows to houses as a source of ventilation
D)passing a green tax to make homeowners pay for their pollution
E)providing asthma inhalers to children under the age of 12 years

Question 44

Which of the following is a source of indoor air pollution?

A)mold
B)dust mites
C)radon
D)cigarette smoke
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 45

Which of the following would be part of a technological solution to reducing air pollution?

A)providing tax credits for commuters who ride buses that run on compressed natural gas
B)installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home
C)pricing a pollution-generating product or service such that costs associated with pollution and resource depletion are accounted for
D)allowing polluters to sell their excess pollution credits for a profit
E)installing smokestack scrubbers to keep air pollutants from being released

Question 46

What does NOT explain why indoor air pollution may pose a bigger threat than outdoor air pollution in some locations?

A)We breathe more air indoors because we spend so much time in homes,schools,and/or the workplace.
B)Items in our home such as paint,cleaners,and furniture release VOCs,which can cause health problems.
C)Outdoor pollutants such as radon can also find their way into our buildings and concentrate in enclosed areas.
D)Secondary pollutants form and accumulate more easily in indoor environments.
E)All of these answers explain why indoor air pollution may pose a bigger threat than outdoor air pollution.

Question 47

What did the Clean Power Plan,approved in 2016,establish rules for?

A)regulating carbon monoxide
B)providing green taxes for polluters
C)removing sulfur dioxide from point source emissions
D)regulating carbon dioxide
E)using clean coal technology

Question 48

U.S.law authorizes _____ to set standards for dangerous air pollutants.

A)the Environmental Protection Agency
B)states
C)the Department of Environmental Protection
D)the Food and Drug Administration
E)the World Health Organization

Question 49

Improving air quality using command and control methods means ____________.

A)paying a tax to the government on environmentally undesirable activities or enjoying a reduction in the tax in exchange for some desirable action
B)building tall smokestacks to send emissions high into the atmosphere so that they disperse and do not pool at the site of production
C)following regulations that set an upper allowable limit of pollution release,which is enforced with fines and/or incarceration
D)using free government money or resources intended to promote desired activities
E)following regulations that set upper limits for pollution release based on which producers are issued permits that allow them to release a portion of that amount; if they release less,they can sell their remaining allotment to others who did not reduce their emissions enough

Question 50

In developing countries,the main source(s)of indoor air pollution is/are _______.

A)particulates like soot as a result of cooking with wood or charcoal
B)mold
C)toxic chemicals
D)radon from the decay of uranium in rock that seeps through the foundations
E)lead

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT a source of indoor air pollution?

A)cigarettes
B)cleaners
C)furniture
D)paint
E)foundation cement

Question 52

Reducing indoor air pollution involved all of the following EXCEPT ____________.

A)providing adequate ventilation for a home
B)properly storing household chemicals
C)removing carpeting in the home
D)sealing the home to prevent air leaks
E)All of these reduce indoor air pollution.

Question 53

For most people in developed countries,the greatest exposure to air pollution comes from being indoors,where structures tend to trap pollutants,keeping concentrations high.How can exposure to these indoor pollutants be reduced?

Question 54

Douglas Dockery from Harvard University conducted a study to establish the link between air pollution and impaired health.Describe his study and what he found.

Question 55

Which statement(s)about the Clean Air Act is/are TRUE?

A)The Clean Air Act is evidence that regulations can be effective as a pollution-reduction tool because the United States has seen major reductions in common air pollutants.
B)Under the Clean Air Act,the EPA sets air quality standards for ambient air,with the states being responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance.
C)The Clean Air Act is subject to political wrangling,as evidenced by the introduction of several congressional bills designed to limit the EPA's ability to regulate air quality,specifically carbon dioxide (CO₂).
D)Under the auspices of the Clean Air Act,the EPA approved greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty vehicles (cars and trucks)that will require new vehicles to produce less greenhouse gas emissions.
E)All of these answers are true.

Question 56

In 1963,the United States passed the ______,which sets a maximum amount for emissions of pollutants or the presence of pollutants in ambient air.

A)Safe Air Act
B)Safe Air Law
C)Clean Air Act
D)Clear Air Law
E)Safe and Clean Air Act

Question 57

Reducing air pollution improves our environmental well-being and is a cost saver in the long term,as we rely on many ecosystem services.Which of the following statements correctly reflects the environmental benefit based on reducing air pollution?

A)Since lead can damage a leaf's ability to photosynthesize,preventing lead pollution will allow for healthy plant growth and improved crop yields.
B)Since smog eats away at limestone and marble structures and damages steel and concrete,reducing smog provides protection for buildings and monuments,especially those made of marble and limestone.
C)Reducing acid rain will improve salmon fisheries,as acidified water causes aluminum to build up in water to levels that are toxic to juvenile salmon.
D)Mercury emissions create haze; thus,reducing such emissions improves visibility,a significant matter in tourist destinations.
E)Sulfur dioxide bioaccumulates in individuals and biomagnifies up food chains; thus,reducing such emissions protects our meat supply,which otherwise could become too toxic to eat.

Question 58

_______ is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced from the decay of uranium in rock.After seeping through foundations,it can accumulate in basements and lead to lung cancer.

A)Mercury
B)Lead
C)VOC
D)Radon
E)Carbon dioxide

Question 59

Because of the economic costs,there is often resistance to implementing solutions to reduce air pollution.What are these economic costs? Make a case for why,despite these financial costs,air pollution solutions should be implemented.In other words,what are the costs of NOT implementing these solutions? Provide two examples: one from the developing world and one from the developed world.

Question 60

Paints can release _______ while drying,and one way to prevent these pollutants from accumulating indoors is by _________.

A)VOCs; providing good ventilation
B)chlorine; using a HEPA filter
C)particulates; using low VOC paints
D)toxic chemicals; removing your shoes while painting
E)radon; limiting the use of carpets

Question 61

If a car company wanted to reduce the air pollution created by its cars,how could it apply tools such as subsidies,tax credits,and cap-and-trade regulations in its efforts? Be sure to define each term as part of your response.

Question 62

You are talking with your family about your cousin's asthma.You ask what can be done to reduce outdoor air pollution.Your mom describes two methods,one technological and one based on policy.Which of the following would be a technological method?

A)subsidies
B)cap and trade
C)smokestack scrubbers
D)green taxes

Question 63

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions.
What city showed the smallest reduction in relative mortality from 1974-1989 to 1990-1998?

A)St.Louis,Missouri
B)Topeka,Kansas
C)Watertown,Massachusetts
D)Harriman,Tennessee

Question 64

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions.
The city with the lowest particulate matter concentration in the air during 1990-1998 was ____________.

A)St.Louis,Missouri
B)Topeka,Kansas
C)Watertown,Massachusetts
D)Harriman,Tennessee

Question 65

Which form of air pollution would aggravate your cousin's asthma the most?

A)ground-level ozone
B)dust
C)carbon monoxide
D)particulate matter

Question 66

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 67

Particles smaller than ____ µg are the most dangerous for people with asthma like your cousin.

A)12.5
B)10
C)5
D)2.5

Question 68

Particulates can damage respiratory tissue more in children than adults because ____________.

A)children play outside more than adults
B)children breathe in more air for their size than adults do
C)adults exhale more pollutants with each breath,so the effects are not as severe
D)adults spend more time in buildings with controlled air ventilation

Question 69

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions.
The particulate matter concentration in the air in St.Louis,Missouri,during 1990-1998 was between ____________.

A)10 and 15 µg/m³
B)15 and 20 µg/m³
C)20 and 25 µg/m³
D)25 and 30 µg/m³

Question 70

Which of the following is a point source of air pollution that could be harmful to your cousin?

A)smoke from burning crop fields to clear land
B)exhaust released from a smokestack on a nearby power plant
C)vehicle emissions from cars
D)These are all point sources of harmful air pollution.

Question 71

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions.
The relative mortality for Harriman,Tennessee during 1990-1998 was approximately ____________.

A)0.8
B)1.0
C)1.1
D)1.2
E)1.3

Question 72

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions.
In which city was relative mortality and particulate matter concentration the highest?

A)Harriman,Tennessee,during 1974-1989
B)Steubenville,Ohio,during 1990-1998
C)Harriman,Tennessee,during 1990-1998
D)Steubenville,Ohio,during 1974-1989