Question 1

Endocrine disrupters are now outlawed.

Accepted Answer

Endocrine disrupters are not outlawed everywhere. While some countries, such as the European Union and Canada, have banned certain endocrine disrupters, other countries have not. Additionally, there are still many endocrine disrupters in use that have not been banned.

Question 2

Endocrine disrupters are substances that can mimic hormones.

Accepted Answer

Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that can interfere with the normal hormonal balance in the body, either by mimicking the activity of hormones or by blocking their normal function. This can cause a range of health effects, including reproductive problems, developmental abnormalities, and increased risk of certain cancers.

Question 3

Through biomagnification, toxins become more concentrated in predators at higher levels in the food web.

Accepted Answer

Biomagnification is the process by which toxins or pollutants become increasingly concentrated as they move up the food chain or food web, starting with the producers and ending with the top predators. This is because predators accumulate the toxins from all the organisms they consume lower in the food chain, resulting in a higher concentration of toxins in their bodies.

Question 4

Automobile exhaust, resulting in increased ozone production, has helped to offset ozone depletion in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Automobile exhaust actually contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant. It does not offset ozone depletion in the atmosphere. Ozone depletion is caused by the release of chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere.

Question 5

Wood-burning is a pollution-free method of heating a home.

Accepted Answer

While wood-burning is a renewable energy source, the smoke and particulate matter produced by burning wood can contribute to air pollution and health problems. It is important to properly maintain wood-burning stoves or fireplaces and to use dry, seasoned wood to minimize emissions.

Question 6

The release of sulfur into the atmosphere from industry makes rainwater more acidic.

Accepted Answer

Sulfur dioxide from industrial emissions combines with oxygen and water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, which can lower the pH of rainwater and make it more acidic. This is known as acid rain.

Question 7

The process of mining and extracting gold involves cyanide.

Accepted Answer

Cyanide is commonly used in the process of mining and extracting gold from ore. It is used to dissolve and separate gold from ore, which then requires further processing to extract the gold from the cyanide solution. However, the use of cyanide in gold mining is controversial due to its potential environmental and health risks.

Question 8

New-car smell is caused by off-gassing of VOCs.

Accepted Answer

New-car smell is caused by the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the various materials and finishes used in manufacturing the car. These compounds can include benzene, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde, among others.

Question 9

Mercury is a neurotoxin.

Accepted Answer

Mercury is a neurotoxin, meaning it can damage nerve cells and the nervous system. It can affect cognition, memory, and behavior, among other things.

Question 10

Since the outlawing of PCB production, PCB in animal tissues has gradually disappeared.

Accepted Answer

Despite the outlawing of PCB production, PCBs persist in the environment and accumulate in animal tissues due to their high stability and lipophilic nature, leading to long-term environmental and health impacts.

Question 11

In pollution treatment, "four nines" means 99.99 percent of the pollutant has been removed.

Accepted Answer

"Four nines" does refer to a 99.99 percent removal rate in pollution treatment.

Question 12

Bioremediation is typically performed by bacteria.

Accepted Answer

Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, such as bacteria or fungi, to break down or remove contaminants in the environment. Bacteria are commonly used in bioremediation due to their ability to metabolize a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds.

Question 13

Many kinds of bacteria consider petroleum edible.

Accepted Answer

Many bacteria species have evolved to break down petroleum as a food source, such as certain species of Pseudomonas and Dietzia. This ability is utilized in bioremediation efforts to clean up polluted areas.

Question 14

Leachate is contaminated exhaust released by incineration.

Accepted Answer

Leachate is actually a liquid that permeates through waste and becomes contaminated with pollutants. It is not related to incineration exhaust.

Question 15

Phytoremediation is performed by plants.

Accepted Answer

Phytoremediation is the process of using plants to remove pollutants or contaminants from the soil, water, or air. Therefore, it is indeed performed by plants.

Question 16

The Precautionary Principle says that scientific certainty is essential before making any decisions about pollutants.

Accepted Answer

The Precautionary Principle states that in the absence of scientific certainty, action should still be taken to prevent potential harm from pollutants, rather than waiting for conclusive evidence.

Question 17

A cancer cluster is

Accepted Answer

A cancer cluster is a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases in a particular area. It may be linked to environmental factors, such as exposure to carcinogens, pollution or radiation.

Question 18

Smog is the result of

Accepted Answer

Smog is primarily the result of a photochemical process where sunlight reacts with pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, in the atmosphere to form ozone and other harmful pollutants.

Question 19

BOD is

Accepted Answer

BOD stands for biochemical oxygen demand, which is a measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down the organic matter present in a particular water sample. Therefore, high BOD levels indicate low levels of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to aquatic ecosystem stress and fish kills. Options A, C and D are unrelated to BOD.

Question 20

Eutrophication is often caused by

Accepted Answer

Eutrophication is a process where the excessive nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus cause the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers in farming is one of the major causes of eutrophication in water bodies.

Quiz 9: Energy