air final
Above the troposphere the stratosphere reaches approximately:
(not 40 km) I think 30 km
In severe conditions such as dust storms and dense fogs, visibility can be reduced to;
1 meter
Macrophage engulfment efficiency is greatest for particles in the size range of:
1.5 to 8 micrometers
Particles less than ______ micrometers in diameter are so small that they can get into the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems. Select the best answer.
10
How do air pollutant concentrations of 10-3 and 10-6 mg/m3 compare to each other?
10-3 is a thousand times greater than 10-6.
In many U.S. communities, AQI values are usually below ________, with values higher than ________ extremely rare. Select the best answer.
100:300
Nitrogen dioxide is emitted at a rate of 80g/s from a stack with an effective height of 60m. It is an overcast day and the wind speed is 6m/s. What is the value of Sigma y for a distance of 1500 meters from the stack? Dispersion Nomograms and Stability Category Table
150
Correct The first public health act to address air pollution may have been the Public Health Act of Great Britain in the year:
1848
The adverse health effects of smoking cigarettes has been known for a long time; however, the U.S. Surgeon General did not address this issue publicly in a report until:
1964
Particles less than _____ micrometers in diameter are called "fine" particles.
2.5
Particles between _____ and _____ micrometers in diameter are referred to as "coarse."
2.5 and 10
Although the earth's atmosphere has undergone many dramatic changes, the current oxygen level has stabilized to about:
20.9%
Most environmental sampling and analysis methods must meet a minimum accuracy criterion of ± _____ percent, as well as a precision criterion of ± _____ percent.
25 : 10
The following level of carbon monoxide is recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for a time weighted 8 hour daily average, 5 days/week, exposure.
25 ppm
The newborn at rest breathes how much more air per kilogram (kg) of body mass than an adult?
3 times
What is the relative risk for long term heavy smokers if Ie = one in twenty (1/20) smokers who get lung cancer in 30 years, and Io = one in six hundred (1/600) non-smokers who get lung cancer in thirty years?
30
In large cities with more than ___________ people, state and local agencies are required to report the AQI to the public daily.
350,000
The climate code "GISS Model EGCM" closely predicted the drop in temperature following the 1991 volcanic eruption at Mount Pinatubo as:
4 degrees Centigrade
Nitrogen dioxide is emitted at a rate of 80g/s from a stack with an effective height of 60m. It is an overcast day and the wind speed is 6m/s. What is the value of Sigma z for a distance of 1500 meters from the stack? Dispersion Nomograms and Stability Category Table
40
Approximately what percent of the world's electricity is generated from coal-fired power plants?
40%
If a daily air pollution exposure of a certain group is compared with a non-exposed group the probability that the two groups do or do not differ is studied and compared. The permissible error (statistical significance) in such a study when claiming a difference is usually.
5%
Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly _______ percent of all carbon monoxide emissions nationwide, and up to _______ percent in cities.
60:95
ne way to look at risks is by loss of expected lifespan. This is expressed in the equation LLE=S-D where S is the expected lifespan and D is the actual age at death. Dr. Bernard Cohen in 1991 gave the LLE from exposure to air pollution levels in the United States as:
77 days loss of life span
In modern coal-fired power plants how many potential pollutants are captured prior to entering the environment?
99%
Some of the beginnings of the risk assessment process started in the 1930's where industrial hygienists and occupational physicians developed the concept of:
A dose-response relationship
Consider smooth spherical particles with a 2.5 micrometer diameter versus smooth spherical particles with a 0.1 micrometer diameter. Which of the following statements are true?
A microgram of the smaller particle has a larger surface area than a microgram of the larger diameter
Powers of 10 (exponents) are used in quantitative measuring
ALL OF THE ABOVE
For air sampling gases and vapors, which of the following is NOT an advantage of adsorption in comparison with absorption?
Adsorption can produce stable derivatives for analysis.
Why do toxicologists use the aerodynamic diameter instead of the physical diameter of inhaled particles?
Aerodynamic diameter influences the deposition in the respiratory tract.
Engineering approaches to air pollution control include:
All of the above are true.
Factors that significantly influence the Earth's climate include:
All of the above are true.
How is the measure of standard deviation used in sampling and analysis methods?
All of the above are true.
With the mass median aerodynamic diameter, why are a median and geometric standard deviation used to define the distribution, even though they tend to both under-represent and over-represent the mass distribution? (see Chapter 3)
Both a and b are true
The primary natural forces that have historically determined air quality include:
Both a. and b are true.
Which of the following are confounders for ozone exposure?
Both a. and b. are true.
In 1983, the National Center for Atmospheric Research created a global atmospheric model called:
Community Climate Model
Which of the following elimination pathways for xenobiotic chemicals occur in the lungs?
Exhalation and metabolic conversion
Enzymes connected with biotransformation of air pollutants in the body include all but the following.
HYDROKINS
Which of the following is an example of a population sample?
Hourly traffic-related carbon monoxide air concentrations within an air basin.
High uncertainty factors (UF) are often an indication of:
How uncertain potential outcomes are in humans
What type of particle collector uses narrow passages and abrupt air current changes to collect particles on a perpendicular surface?
Impactors
One of the key figures in the history of toxicology was
Paracelsus
One of the key figures in the history of toxicology was:
Paracelsus
Overall, risk assessment is aimed at:
Predicting future outcomes
The second step in risk assessment is hazard assessment or the dose-response assessment. Below are all but one of the steps in this process.
Re-screen subjects looking for confounders
Which of the following is NOT an example of effective risk communication concerning a carcinogenic air pollutant?
Reporting the expected excess number of cancer deaths
Which of the following is not likely to represent toxicological research.
Studies of disease occurrence in populations with reference to individual variables
Risk assessments provide:
The major rationale for setting air quality standards.
Another way to show statistical significance is through the following example.
The relationship between A and B is NOT due to chance alone
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of passive sampling over active sampling?
The theoretical sampling rate accurately predicts the sampling rate under environmental conditions and use in the field.
Total lung capacity refers to:
The volume of gas in the lungs at the end of a maximum inspiration
A regulatory standard for the control of CO2 emissions in order to protect the Earth's climate would be an example of:
a "strategic" standard.
Air pollutants may become temporarily or permanently trapped in the body through the following.
a and b
Hazard assessment involves two primary steps.
a and b
Potential confounders for ozone health effects at a give time could be:
a and b
Analytical results must be reported in manner that reflects the limitations of the method. The following classifications are often used in these reports.
a and c
the U. S. Clean Air Act of 1963 established funding for the following
a and c
Considering the principles of a greenhouse, which the following apply:
a and c only
Because particle size has been shown to alter the deposition pattern in the respiratory tract, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently regulate particulate matter (PM) in ALL BUT the following ranges.
a and d
One of the first epidemiologists was a physician, John Snow, who in 1854 made the connection between contaminated water and:
a cholera break
A spirometer is:
a device measuring air flow and volumes
An ideal gas is:
a gas without significant forces between the gas molecules
What is a method detection limit?
a measure of the ability of an analytical method to distinguish a sample from a blank or background
Relative risk (RR) is:
a ratio of two risks.
Chemical reactions that occur in the earth's upper atmosphere when acted upon by the sun's radiant energy include all but the following
agglomeration
The term "personal cloud" refers to:
air pollutants that are produced by a person's own activities.
Hydrocarbons are typically listed by class or in a homologous series. All the following are hydrocarbons except
alderases
Human welfare effects fall into the following categories.
all of the aboce
Academic fields that are tools in toxicological research include
all of the above
Academic fields that are tools in toxicological research include:
all of the above
Aerosol particles and gas molecules have the ability to:
all of the above
Air pollutant sampling can be an overwhelming task, however, the bottom line should be:
all of the above
Air pollution standards have difficulty in protecting people from
all of the above
Air pollution standards have difficulty in protecting people from:
all of the above
Air pollution toxicology is a field that conducts the following types of studies
all of the above
Air pollution toxicology is a field that conducts the following types of studies.
all of the above
Animal studies of air pollutants can provide key information on:
all of the above
Electrostatic precipitators (ESP) perform the following.
all of the above
Engine oil, which is needed to decrease friction in operating parts, has a number of additives that enter the combustion chamber and contribute to pollutants in the exhaust. A sample of these include.
all of the above
Human population characteristics are so diverse they will often be broken up into subpopulations which include.
all of the above
Hygroscopic particles:
all of the above
If one looks at balancing risks, the consequences and benefits should be considered. The following could be included in the risk assessment process
all of the above
If one looks at balancing risks, the consequences and benefits should be considered. The following could be included in the risk assessment process.
all of the above
In a longitudinal-time-series study of an air pollution episode, a single population is studied over time and data collection often include
all of the above
Long before toxicology arose as a science, plant extracts and animal venoms were used as poisons. Some of these uses were for:
all of the above
Long term studies of ozone using laboratory animals have shown the following effects:
all of the above
Macrophages are cells in the deep lung that:
all of the above
Modern gasoline engines are equipped with catalytic-three-way converters (TWCs). These convert carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons to:
all of the above
Natural forces that affect the earth's climate include:
all of the above
Nitrogen oxides can form acid rain and contribute to urban smog. Effective methods for reducing nitrogen oxides from flue gases includes.
all of the above
Occupational sources of lead (Pb) can be brought home by way of:
all of the above
Of Hill's Criteria the term strength refers to:
all of the above
Permeation of fuel from fuel tanks and distribution hoses is controlled by the use of:
all of the above
Physics, the science of mass, energy and their interactions, provides an essential insight into the design of particle collection devices. The physics principles which allow particles to leave an air stream and deposit on a surface include:
all of the above
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are molecules that:
all of the above
Removal of fly ash from the flue gas stream involves the use of:
all of the above
Some infection producing bacteria that have potential for airborne transmission are:
all of the above
Spiking a sample is important because:
all of the above
The toxicity of a chemical in the body is affected by:
all of the above
The toxicity of an inhaled substance will depend on:
all of the above
The transport of air pollutants is largely driven by:
all of the above
The types of controls used in industry to maintain safe air concentrations are:
all of the above
The visibility of large distant objects depends on which of the following.
all of the above
To shift to a more holistic control strategy for air pollutants, all the following are considerations.
all of the above
Underlying diseases may be contributing factors in air pollution related deaths. A small additional trigger could produce serious health effects in such compromised persons. Examples of triggers include.
all of the above
Which of the following is an example of a factor that can cause people to perceive risks as greater than how those same risks would be judged by an expert in the field?
all of the above
he scientists at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the "Climategate"scandal were accused of the following regarding their data:
all of the above
Air quality regulations and standards have had dramatic results in the past decades as shown by:
all the above
Common filter media include all but the following.
aluminum
Where are the surfactant cells located?
alveoli
Gas spectroscopy is an important analytical tool in atmospheric chemistry because it:
analyzes the electromagnetic absorption by gases
Computer modeling has played an increasing role in air pollution health-effects research. This can occur because the knowledge gained regarding human and animal:
b and c
Mass-based particulate standards are more controversial than chemical-specific standards because:
b and c
Epidemiological studies look for a relationship between air quality and the health of a large group of people, but alone they CANNOT establish.
causation
Alchemy is considered the predecessor of which science practiced today?
chemistry
The following compounds are regulated to prevent ozone depletion:
chlorofluorocarbons
The most common source of anthropogenic sulfur comes from:
coal combustion
The common statistical measure termed 95th percentile is also called a:
confidence interval
Time-series epidemiological studies:
control for confounders such as socioeconomic status and occupation.
All but one of the following factors is associated with extreme air pollution episodes.
electromagnetic fields
The types of toxicology include all but the following.
epidemiological
An example of in vitro testing in a toxicological study is:
experiments with cells in culture
Sources of pollutants from farming include all but the following.
fly ash
Different disciplines involved in air pollution science use differing units of measurement. All but the following are some of these units
fractals
When exposed to a substance the body may adapt so that in future exposures ALL BUT the following may occur.
frank responses
Acute exposures typically will range:
from minutes to days
A prospective study is one that:
gathers data on a group of subjects for further study
Which of the following is NOT a basic type of dose-response relationship?
genus based
Science has gained knowledge of air pollution health effects through all but the following.
geologic survery
Under "pristine" (pollution-free) conditions, scenic visibility is:
greater than 100 km
All but the following are important considerations in the selection of an appropriate aerosol or gas collector.
greatly exceeding compliance standa
With respect to changing the Earth's climate:
greenhouse gases produce a warming trend.
When exposures to a non-carcinogen hazard may include multiple routes of exposure or the additive effects of similar hazards that affect the same target organ, then a ______________ is commonly used to evaluate the cumulative effect.
hazard index HI
Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream through the lungs and binds to ______________.
hemoglobin
Inhaled carbon monoxide travels to the blood stream where it combines with:
hemoglobin
An AQI value is calculated for each pollutant in an area and the _______ AQI value for the ___________ pollutants is the AQI value for that day.
highest: individual
In hazard identification, a qualitative classification is based on the dose required to produce an adverse health effect. In the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a qualitative scale denoted by I to IV and ranging from:
highly toxic to practically toxic
Because the chemical composition of particulate matter varies by season, location and other factors, epidemiological studies of air pollution are:
highly variable
If an unknown gas was subject to initial toxicological screening what studies would not be done?
human clinical trials in healthy subjects
In the original U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 1971; primary standards protect____________and secondary standards protect____________.
human health; human welfare
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated naturally in the body and their actions can be diminished by all but the following
hydrokin
All the following are sampling devices with the exception of:
hydrostatic chambers
Ultraviolet exposure from sunlight is responsible for all but the following
hypopigmentation
Ultraviolet exposure from sunlight is responsible for all but the following:
hypopigmentation
Spirometer results are used in all but the following.
identifying specific air pollutants
The three great air pollution disasters were:
in the Meuse River Valley (1930), Donora, Pennsylvania (1948), and London (1952).
Bioaerosols:
include living microorganisms and dead organisms.
All but the following are measures to suppress fungal growth.
increase humidity
As altitude increases, visibility:
increases`
Providing a safe work environment has spawned several certified specialties including all except the following.
industrial environmental activists
A stringent air standard level could have all but the following effects
inexpensive health care
What factors can classify a substance as an air pollutant?
interference with human health or welfare, damage to materials or objects of value, or interference with important scientific processes.
Risk assessment:
is a formal process used to evaluate and prioritize risks by governmental agencies.
Ultraviolet solar radiation:
is considered to be harmful to life on Earth.
Ozone is an air pollutant that:
is mainly a "secondary" air pollutant.
Haze:
is produced by the scattering of light by air contaminants.
Hazard identification is a qualitative evaluation of toxicological, epidemiological and biological chemical data. Another less technical way to state this is:
is this stuff toxic
Epidemiology is important for establishing air pollution standards because:
it provides information on actual air pollutant exposures of human populations.
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons):
lead to stratospheric ozone depletion.
Within governmental agencies, the term mandate refers to:
legal responsibilities driven by laws
In vitro studies are controlled studies which include investigation of
living cells
In vitro studies are controlled studies which include investigation of:
living cells
The terms "strategic" and "tactical" apply to the followin
long and short term goals
Laboratory animal studies of air pollutants:
look for birth defects, cancer, and other effects that cannot be studied in cell cultures.
The most common sites for long term storage of poorly soluble fine particles, such as carbon, are:
lymph nodes
The Mad Hatter's disease as depicted in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is the result of what type of poisoning?
mercury
Lead emissions are mostly associated with:
metal processign
How would one classify the population of cross-country motorcycles as sources of air pollution?
mobile, distributed, and anthropogenic.
Automotive catalytic converters:
operate most effectively when they are hot.
Light scattering by particles is dependent on all but the following:
particle mass
Paracelsus, considered the father of toxicology, practiced both as an alchemist and:
physician
Most laboratory-based analytical instruments must meet a minimum accuracy criterion of_____________and a minimum precision criterion of______________.
plus or minus 10%; less than 5%
Most environmental sampling and analysis methods conducted in the field must meet a minimum accuracy criterion of:
plus or minus 25%
Bag filters can be made of all but the following.
polycarrbonate mixed ester
In 2009 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established several levels of determination of causality. The following include all but one of these levels.
poorly chosen casual relationship
Earth science is a discipline that deals with all of the following except:
population demographics
Major sources of sulfur dioxide include ____________.
power plants
Newer clean diesel engine designs have lowered nitrogen dioxide emissions through electronic control of fuel injectors in the following.
precise fuel injection rate
Which of the following is not a critical function of the respiratory tract?
prevention of very small particles from entering the lower lung
Compliance strategies for meeting air regulations include all but the following.
promoting sulfur laden coal burning
The "troposphere":
provides the air in which the Earth's living things exist.
the British Clean Air Act of 1956 was instituted after the 1952 London Air pollution Disaster to control:
soft coal
The primary source of pollutants in the London disaster of 1952 was considered to be:
soft high sulfur coal
Modern epidemiology uses the following to discover adverse health effects in an environment where lower levels of air pollutants generally affect a small fraction of the exposed population.
sophisticated statistical methods
Ozone, a poorly soluble gas, when entering the lower airways at high concentrations can do all but the following.
stimulate ciliary action
The classification of a toxic substance that causes birth defects:
teratgon
Air contaminants can be classified in many ways. The following are some of these except:
tertiary
Some gases are more soluble in water than in lipids. As the brain has substantial lipid content, you would expect a washout of fat soluble gases to be faster in the brain than in fatty deposits because:
the brain has greater blood flow than fatty deposits
Another name for the tracheobronchial region is:
the bronchiole and bronchiolar region
For proper operation, catalytic-three-way converters must be sufficiently hot. Therefore, a majority of a car /truck's emissions can occur shortly after a cold start. One solution to solve this would be:
to preserve heat with double walled insulation pipes upstream of the converter
Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere, where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays
true
Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere, where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
true
Particle pollution can increase susceptibility to respiratory infections and can aggravate existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.
true
People with cardiovascular disease, such as angina, are most at risk for carbon monoxide exposures.
true
Risk communication is a crucial step between risk assessment and risk management.
true
Risk management decisions, such as having a choice of fuels, is easier if there are several alternatives with exposure data available for comparison
true
Risk management decisions, such as having a choice of fuels, is easier if there are several alternatives with exposure data available for comparison.
true
Small particle fly ash as released in older coal power plants can travel long distances and across national borders
true
The health effects associated with coarse particles (PM10) are confounded (interfered with) by the presence of fine particles.
true
The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.
true
The no observed effects level (NOAEL) is an exposure level at which no biologically or statistically significant increase in severity of an adverse health effect is seen in human or animals.
true
The very things that pollute the air often sustain life and/or make it worthwhile.
true
Ultrafine particles (UFP) have very little mass or surface area. If they are poorly soluble in water they can pass into epithelium and nerve tissue due to their small dimensions.
true
he overall prosperity of a nation, state,city or region will usually determine the level of expenditures for improving air quality.
true
t is possible that the same air pollutant can cause harm to some individuals and yet be of benefit to others.
true
to best serve society the benefits and consequences of an air regulation standard should be taken into consideration.
true
Inversion occurs when:
warm air traps cool air close to the earth's surface
The temperature-related phenomena that helps to dilute air pollutants is:
warm surface air rising vertically
An air inversion is caused by:
warmer air on top of cooler air.
Bioaerosols include all but the following.
water droplets
Formaldehyde (HCHO), a water soluble gas, has highly irritant properties. Significant sources of formaldehyde include all but the following.
water heaters
According to the Gaussian Plume Model, the maximum ground level concentration occurs:
where σz= 0.707H
Early air pollution problems associated with primitive industrial processes could have stemmed from all but the following.
wild fires
Inhaled gases will:
will deposit in the body depending on their solubility in respiratory tract fluids (such as mucus).
The scientists at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the "Climategate"scandal were accused of the following regarding their data:
all of the above
The term causality has different meanings depending on the discipline using it. A determination in causality is therefore in essence:
all of the above
The term significant has many meanings such as important or meaningful. In the biomedical realm, the term significant can mean or imply:
all of the above
ir pollution standards have difficulty in protecting people from:
all of the above
uman population characteristics are so diverse they will often be broken up into subpopulations which include.
all of the above
For regulatory purposes (i.e., establishing ambient air quality standards) what types of tests are considered?
all of the above are tru
Convincing the general public to take a realistic view of risks can be difficult. Factors that can cause people to perceive risks greater than those judged by the experts include:
all of the above are true
Natural sources of air pollutants include:
all of the above are true
n addition to gas exchange, the respiratory system also:
all of the above are true
A basic principle in toxicology is:
all substances are poisonous if the dose is large enough.
Air contaminants exist in several forms including:
all the above
Ecosystems generally apply to:
all the above
In air pollution science analytical objectives often relate to the following.
all the above
It must be noted that PM2.5 is part of PM10. Because of this many air pollution studies use the following particulate size classifications.
all the above
Reporting of sampling errors is an important part of the sampling process. The sources of random errors include.
all the above
Solar radiation consists of:
all the above
Specialized education in the following discipline(s) is crucial in conducting sound sampling and analysis plans.
all the above
The London Air Pollution Disaster of 1952 caused as many as 4,000 early deaths during a four day period. Deaths occurred mainly on the 3rd and 4th days relating to:
all the above
The following chemical properties are important factors regarding inhalation exposures:
all the above
he following chemical properties are important factors regarding inhalation exposures:
all the above
An odds ratio is used in place of relative risk (RR) where incidence rates of diseases are not available. The ratio for odds of an exposed group having a disease is compared to:
an unexposed group having the same disease
Anthropogenic air pollutants that might influence climate:
are among the forcing factors included in climate models.
The use of air cleaners indoors:
are effective if the major sources of air pollutants have been removed and the filtering rate and efficiency are sufficient.
Diesel engines:
are important contributors to public health due to their roles in farming, transportation, etc.
Epidemiologic investigations:
are relevant to establishing air pollution regulations because they study real human exposures.
Electrostatic precipitators:
are useful for collecting nearly all types of particles.
Computer simulations:
are useful for devising air quality regulations.
Direct effects of air pollutants occur in the following disease states with the exception of:
arthritis
Climate is influenced by all except:
asbestos insulation
When comparing workers to the general population, workers may receive exposures to toxic chemicals tha
at higher concentrations for longer time periods
When comparing workers to the general population, workers may receive exposures to toxic chemicals that are:
at higher concentrations for longer time periods
Sick building syndrome (SBS) differs from building related illness (BRI) because:
b and c
Tools that climatologists use in obtaining past climatic records include:
b and c
An important industry goal for using risk assessment and decreasing liability relating to any number of air pollutants includes all but the following.
suing for negative press releases
Coal-fired power plants use emission stacks to ensure effective dilution of the flue gases prior to entering the outside environment. Flue gases contain all but the following in appreciable amounts.
sulfuric aid
Whether or not an individual is adversely affected by a given air pollutant will depend primarily on their:
susceptibility
Air pollution regulations which are rules that must be followed include all the following basic types with the exception of:
targets
An air pollution study using cross-sectional methods may:
select subjects and compile data to relate a current health status to an air pollution episode.
Some indoor sources of air pollutants consist of all but the following.
smoke detectors
What type of toxicology study is preferred when one is performing initial screening tests on previously unstudied nanoparticles?
In vitro testing
Air quality standards typically have which of the following components?
Indicator, averaging time, form, and level.
The Family Smoking Prevention and Control Act of 2009 highlights all but the following findings.
Intervention should target only children
Which statement about light extinction is untrue?
It is produced by particles but not gases.
The lowest concentration of an air pollutant that produces lethal toxicity when inhaled is:
LClo
Match the plume type with the lapse rate and effective stack height description. Looping Coning Fanning Lofting Fummigation Trapping
Superadiabatic lapse rate, good vertical mixing Weak lapse rate; pollutants expand in spherical fashion and blown downwind; modeling works best for this type of plume A. Effective stack height is such that the pollutants are discharged in the inversion layer; light winds; little vertical mixing F. Effective stack height is such that the pollutants are discharged above the inversion layer B. Effective stack height is such that the pollutants are discharged below the inversion layer; strong lapse rate below the inversion D. There is an inversion aloft; the effective stack height is below the inversion layer; weak lapse rate below the inversion
Small particle fly ash as released in older coal power plants can travel long distances and across national borders.
T
The concentration of acrylonitrile from a sampling and analysis procedure is 0.01 ppb. The method detection limit is 0.005 ppb and method quantification limit is 0.017 ppb. How is the acrylonitrile concentration reported?
TRACE LEVELS
he agency that regulates and oversees nearly all aspects of tobacco in the United States is:
The Food and Drug Administration
Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Health and Safety Organization have incentive programs for industry to identify, disclose and correct environmental hazards. The EPA may decrease penalties while OSHA has a special program that industry may comply with. This program is titled.
The Voluntary Protection Program
The lifetime probability of excess cancers per µg/m3 of air is an example of:
All of the above are true.
Exposure assessment refers to:
What exposures are currently experienced or anticipated under different conditions
Which meteorological factors are important in influencing ground-level air pollutant concentrations?
All of the above are true.
Why are computational models important?
All of the above are true.
Sulfur dioxide, and important air contaminant, is added to the atmosphere primarily as a by-product of:
all of the above
Match the AQI numerical value with the appropriate level of health concern.
0 - 50 B. Good 51 - 100 E. Moderate 101 - 150 C. Unhealthy for sensitive groups 151 - 200 A. Unhealthy 201 - 300 D. Very unhealthy 301 - 500 F. Hazardous
To protect the general public, including asthmatics, the U.S. National Ambient Air Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide in a 24-hour average exposure is.
0.14 ppm
Averaging time, relating to air quality standards, is directed toward exposure times for specific gases (such as carbon monoxide). The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the following standard for sensitive asthmatics with an exposure to sulfur dioxide.
10 minute limit
The first public health act to address air pollution may have been the Public Health Act of Great Britain in the year:
1848
Nitrogen dioxide is emitted at a rate of 80g/s from a stack with an effective height of 60m. It is an overcast day and the wind speed is 6m/s. Determine the ground level concentration along the centerline at a distance of 1500m from the stack, in micrograms per cubic meter.
371.43
As formaldehyde is an irritant similar to sulfur dioxide, it has good odor warning properties. Which of the following levels of exposure can be intolerable due to the irritant effects?
4 ppm
Interpretation of the hazard quotient is based on whether the upper or lower confidence intervals (CIs) are below, above or overlapping the value of 1.0. Guidelines used for interpretation include all but the following.
A lower limit of less than 1.0 means the exposure exceeds the identified acceptable level
TOXNET® searches:
All of the above are true.
The U.S. EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS):
All of the above are true.
In addition to gas exchange, the respiratory system also:
All of the above are true.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 biotransformation reactions:
All of the above are true.
The best ways to achieve the objective of public trust in regard to risk perception include all but the following.
Allow non-expert special interest groups to actively participate
As no simple solution exists for getting representative estimates of exposure for human populations, it is common practice to examine all the available data and formulate a reasonable maximal exposure estimate (RME) which is:
An estimate of the highest exposure
Environmental chemists and toxicologists will often look at chemical structure and reactive sites to determine potential toxicity. Strong acids and bases can damage tissue due to:
Corrosive properties
Nitrogen dioxide is emitted at a rate of 80g/s from a stack with an effective height of 60m. It is an overcast day and the wind speed is 6m/s. What is the Stability Category?
D
The four basic mechanisms that lead to deposition of aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract and in size-selective air samplers meant to represent the human respiratory tract include:
Diffusion; sedimentation; interception; and impaction.
Which of the following is a representative of a dose least likely to cause harm?
NOAEL
With respect to toxicity all but the following are true.
Natural substances are naturally non-toxic.
Baghouse filters:
None of the above are true.
The health effects of gaseous air pollutants:
None of the above are true.
Which statement is true about atmospheric ozone?
None of the above is true.
EPA calculates the AQI for which of the major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act? Select all that apply.
Ozone Particulate matter Sulfur dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Carbon monoxide
The primary sources of toxicological information useful in hazard identification include all but the following.
Pre-exposure human genome studies
in Hill's Criteria the strength of association can be expressed mathematically as a relative risk RR which in turn can be expressed through the following equation where Io is the incidence of the event in an unexposed group and Ie is the incidence in an exposed group.
RR=Ie/Io
Risk characterization refers to:
The estimated occurrence of the adverse effects in a given population.
What is inhalability?
The fraction of particles in the immediate breathing zone that are inhaled.
Hazard identification refers to:
The health effects that an agent can cause.
In healthy individuals, exposure to higher levels of carbon monoxide can affect mental alertness and _____________.
VISION
When looking at carcinogens, the U.S. Environmental protection Agency (EPA) has several classification systems for carcinogenic effects from pollutants. All but the following are included in this.
Very unlikely human carcinogen
Can a lead (Pb) particle and a water particle have the same aerodynamic diameter?
Yes if the lead (Pb) has internal voids or is much smaller in diamter
A regulatory standard for the control of CO2 emissions in order to protect the Earth's climate would be an example of
a "strategic" standard.
Among the numerous reactions driven by solar energy, the production of the following is significant with respect to plant and animal life.
a and b
Analysis of gaseous pollutants can be performed using direct reading or sampling and analysis protocols. The advantage(s) of direct reading analyses include:
a and b
Flue gas contains particulate fly ash.
a and b
Gas collection efficiency is an important factor in selection of an adsorption medium. Some of the sampling factors that can affect collection efficiency are:
a and b
Good guidelines for communicating risks effectively include:
a and b
Regulatory tradeoffs to air pollution regulations are considered:
a and b
Risk communication is:
a and b
Some examples of fibrous particles are:
a and b
Sulfur dioxide is removed from fly ash because of its potential to acidify rain. Removal of this is achieved through:
a and b
The stratosphere protects the earth through:
a and b
When radiant energy is absorbed by a gas molecule the resultant energy transformations include:
a and b
Acute and chronic ozone exposure is stated as having:
a and c
Anthropogenic pollutant sources are often classified a stationary versus mobile in origin. Examples of stationary sources are:
a and c
Biological sequestration is based upon:
a and c
Potential drawback(s) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regarding regulations is:
a and c
The U. S. Clean Air Act of 1963 established funding for the following.
a and c
Ultrafine particles (UFP) have recently produced concern for their greater possible toxicity than fine particles because.
a and c
What are the components of the head airway?
a and c
Within the components of an air quality standard, the "level" is important because:
a and c
Biological significance implies:
a measured change is likely to alter the fitness of a subject
Health effects related to the air pollution disasters resulting from coal emissions were blamed on:
a mixture of air pollutants
The main effect of sulfur dioxide on the lungs, even with brief exposure, is ________________.
a narrowing of the airways
In air pollution science it is important when obtaining samples to get:
a representative sample
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently considers air quality as "a major environmental health problem" with the following pollutants targeted.
all of the above
The route of exposure as well as the level (dose) and rate of delivery are among important factors in an individual's response to an exposure. Exposure routes are generally classifies as.
all of the above
Which consideration does not help in scientifically establishing a cause-and-effect relationship?
a. The effect must immediately follow the cause.
What does the acronym ADMSE stand for?
absorption, distribution, metabolism, storage, and excretion
Which factor is most important for protecting the public health in developing nations?
access to medical services
Relevant diagnoses for ozone related hospital admissions include ALL BUT the following:
accidents
From an regulatory perspective, a successful abatement is one that:
achieves compliance with a regulation
Field blanks are handled in the same way the samples are with their goal being all but the following.
adding volume to the data taken
Hydrocarbons are typically listed by class or in a homologous series. All the following are hydrocarbons except:
alderases
Although epidemiological data alone cannot definitively prove a cause and effect relationship, such data can strongly infer a relationship such as the following.
all of the above
Data collected from the following sources can help identify the subpopulations mostly affected by air pollution.
all of the above
Derivative hydrocarbons occur when one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by another type of atom or group of atoms. Which of the following are examples of derivative hydrocarbons?
all of the above
Earth science:
all of the above
Epidemiological air pollution studies are affected by confounders and surrogates. An example of a possible surrogat
all of the above
Events that can mix tropospheric and stratospheric air include the following.
all of the above
Examples of epidemiological study designs include:
all of the above
For sensitive individuals or asthmatics a clean indoor environment can be aided by the following actions.
all of the above
Good visibility is associated with which of the following:
all of the above
Human health includes:
all of the above
In a longitudinal-time-series study of an air pollution episode, a single population is studied over time and data collection often includes:
all of the above
Inhaled sulfur dioxide (SO2) in high enough doses can cause the following.
all of the above
It is important to note that many health affects produced by specific air pollutants are not "unique" because a significant "background" level of similar effects are produced by:
all of the above
Powers of 10 (exponents) are used in quantitative measuring:
all of the above
Public health is positively supported by:
all of the above
Some of the processes by which chemicals cross cell membranes include all except.
barrier hyperextension
The eye cannot image particles smaller than about 70 micrometers in diameter. How can a flashlight beam be seen in a smoky room where particles are smaller than a few micrometers?
because the particles scatter light
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thoroughly reviewed epidemiological studies from 2004 to 2009 in an Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter. From this report there were nineteen specific health-related categories. below is a portion of this list with one exception.
behavorial changes
The term hormesis refers to:
beneficial effect
Potentially susceptible subpopulations for adverse effects of air pollutants include:
both a and b
The major anthropogenic sources of particulate air pollutants are:
both a and b.
The earliest life forms on the Earth:
both b and c are true
The three air contaminants, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbonaceous fine particles, are:
both natural and anthropogenic air contaminants.
Compared to environmental contaminant exposures from eating and drinking, inhalation:
brings larger daily volumes of the environment into the body.
All but the following were significant factors in the air pollution episode experienced in Belgium's Meuse River valley in 1930.
brisk winds
Irritant air pollutants in sufficient concentrations can illicit all but the following acute reactions.
bronchial cancer
The irritant effects of an inhaled substance:
can be life threatening
Insoluble particles:
can produce lung diseases if they deposit in sufficient concentrations in the respiratory tract.
The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that epidemiological evidence suggests a causal relationship between ultrafine particle exposure and cardiovascular effects. However, it would also be likely that a mixture, including which of the following co-pollutants, is responsible for the observed effects.
carbon monoxide
The first known recorded observation to link an occupational exposure to a disease outcome was made by physician Percival Pott who studied the following occupation:
chimney sweep
PM 10 can be classified as the following once PM2.5 is subtracted form it.
coarse particle matter
Which of the following is NOT a collection device for particles.
collators
Deposition occurs when particles move out of an inhaled airstream to touch an airway wall. All but the following are basic mechanisms of deposition
collification
Deposition occurs when particles move out of an inhaled airstream to touch an airway wall. All but the following are basic mechanisms of deposition.
collification
Abatement strategies are designed to:
comply with regulations.
As the toxicity of particulate matter is modified by gaseous co-pollutants, and other properties known to influence toxicity, the application of one set of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter in the whole of United States is.
controversial
Radiational temperature inversions typically are most intense around:
dawn
Inhaled particles will:
deposit in the body with efficiencies that depend on the particle sizes.
In the equation Dose = C•T•V•E what does E stand for?
deposition efficiency
Many strong confounders in epidemiological studies, such as smoking, socioeconomic status and education level, are automatically controlled for as they:
do not usually change day to day
If the mass emission rate is increased two fold, the downwind concentration of air pollutants in the plume is:
doubled
If the wind speed is halved, the downwind concentration of air pollutants in the plume is:
doubled
In Equation 9-1 what does "E" stand for?
efficiency
Manufacturing and heavy industrial operations often require specialists to help workplaces conform to government air standards. These specialists include all but the following.
efficiency experts
Nitrogen oxide is a gas similar to ozone, but less prevalent in outdoor environments. Indoor levels can be hazardous in all but the following.
electric automobile interiors
Carbon monoxide is an odorless tasteless gas that is a product of fuel combustion. Common sources occur from all but the following.
electric vehicles
Among the unsolved problems in the study of air pollutants are:
evaluating the toxicity of complex mixtures of air pollutants.
Catalytic oxidizers are catalyst-containing filter beds that are operated at high temperatures and pressures. A significant fact associated with these beds is:
explosive limits on particles and gases must be known before used
ALL BUT the following groups have been identified as more susceptible or suspected of being more susceptible to environmental air pollutants.
factory workers
Cities are not allowed to provide forecasts for the next day's AQI.
false
In the field of air pollution epidemiology, statistical techniques are NOT important for establishing quantitative relationships between the exposure variables and the outcomes.
false
Microbiologists have warned that overuse of antibiotics will NOT predispose humans and other animals to future infections from the loss of microbial defenses.
false
Primitive humans and ancient cultures did not experience poor air quality because they did not burn coal.
false
Smaller particles are easier to dislodge from a surface than larger particles.
false
Smokers do NOT have to be concerned with carbon monoxide as an emission from tobacco smoke.
false
The difference between epidemiology and experimental biology is that the focus is on individual subjects in epidemiology versus groups in experimental biology.
false
Toxicokinetics for most chemicals is similar for both ingestion and inhalation modes of entry into the body.
false
When considering the health effects of particulate matter (PM), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can take into consideration by law not only size, but composition in establishing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
false
When individuals with low socio-economic status (below poverty level) are involved in epidemiological studies they often have fewer health related issues than the general population.
false
When communicating the concepts of risk it may be useful to make comparisons with:
familiar activites
Wet scrubbers use a liquid medium for the collection of particles. This liquid can be in the form of all but the following:
fine mist
Gas sampling involves three primary methods for removing pollutants from a known volume of air. All but the following are listed here.
gas chromatography
Regarding particle shape, you would expect an unagglomerated diesel exhaust particle to be:
globular
Air sample filters can be analyzed both _____________ and _____________.
gravimetrically; chemically
Gases that are highly soluble in water include all but the following.
halogen
Ozone at ground level is a ___________ air pollutant.
harmful
A term that can replace the word uniform in describing world-wide environmental standards is:
harmonized
Particles that are highly electrically charged:
have an increased deposition efficiency when inhaled
Air quality regulations and standards:
have often produced dramatic improvements in air quality in areas where they have been enforced.
The National Research Council "Red Book" on risk assessment addresses all but the following
hazard abatement
Which of the following is designed to determine the relative toxicity and toxicological endpoints associated with potential exposure to an environmental contaminant?
hazard identification
The general stages of the risk assessment process include:
hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization.
The U.S. EPA's designated hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
is a list of substances that can change through both additions and deletions by the U.S. EPA
The U.S. EPA's designated hazardous air pollutants (HAPs):
is a list of substances that can change through both additions and deletions by the U.S. EPA.
Over-sampling or under-sampling of particles due to differences in the air velocities between the sampler and emission source is corrected by
isokinetic sampling methods.
Over-sampling or under-sampling of particles due to differences in the air velocities between the sampler and emission source is corrected by:
isokinetic sampling methods.
Among the reasons particle surface area is of interest in air pollution science is:
it influences reactions in the air and persistence in the body
Of the following examples, which type of particle would you expect to be the smallest?
metal fumes
Air pollution disasters can arise from natural and man-made forces. One such tragedy occurred in Bhopal, India in 1984 where this toxic substance was released.
methyl isocante
It is important that exposures are measured in units that are equivalent to those used in the hazard assessment process. Generally, for inhalation, exposures are measured in the following units.
micrograms/cubic meter
Studies of PM2.5 have shown statistically significant associations with respiratory effects. However, in regards to asthma exacerbation studies the effects of PM2.5 are.
mixed and inconclusive
In the exposure assessment phase of risk assessment, sources of pollutants can come from all but the following.
modeled sources
Collections of sampling devices used for area and population exposures are called:
monitoring platforms
Regarding vapor pressure; liquids with a higher vapor pressure will evaporate:
more rapidly at a given temperature
The human respiratory anatomy consists of all but the following region
mucociliary region
The human respiratory anatomy consists of all but the following regions:
mucociliary region
Sick-building syndrome:
must affect at least 20 percent of the occupants.
Human clinical studies of air pollutants:
must be conducted with the consent of the subjects or their legal guardians.
In general, PM10 is more associated with:
natural sources
The coarse mass fraction of particulate matter (PM10 minus PM2.5) is generally dominated by:
natural sources
Hill's considerations for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship:
need not be fufilled
Paradoxical effects are those that provide a beneficial versus harmful response with exposure to low doses of a potentially toxic substance. Other terms for this effect include all but the following.
negative extrapolation
All except the following air pollutant primarily influence the Earth's climate change:
nitrogen
Does an air pollution regulator have to have proof of a cause-and-effect relationship before regulating an air pollutant?
no
One important goal of air pollution animal studies is to identify doses below which serious harm does not occur. An associated term, NOEL, stands for.
no observed effect level
Risk management refers to:
none of the above
The "averaging time" selected for an Air Quality Standard is fixed because.
none of the above
How does the height of a smokestack influence the ground-level concentrations of its emitted particles and gases?
none of the above are true
In vitro toxicology studies of air pollutants:
none of the above are true
Quantitative measurements:
not a and c
Fog droplets are difficult to visualize using an electron microscope because:
not they are constant in motion
"Direct," as opposed to "indirect," health effects of air pollutants include:
only those effects that result from their contact with human or animal tissue.
Examples of particles covered in the Occupational Safety and Health Organization's (OSHA) Federal Regulations for protection of the workforce include all but the following.
ozone
Modern day vehicular traffic is responsible for emitting all but of the following pollutant.
ozone
Which of the following was not believed to contribute to coal-combustion related smog episodes?
ozone
Sensitive groups for particle pollution include which of the following? Select all that apply.
people with heart disease people with lung disease older adults children
The earth's albedo is affected by all but the following:
radioactivity in the earth's core
Gas molecules rapidly move in random directions due to:
random bombardment by other molecules
Relationships that describe ideal gases include all but the following:
rayleigh law
The scattering of light which accounts for the blue sky relates to which phenomena:
rayleigh scattering
Hormesis:
refers to paradoxical effects of low-dose exposures.
Particulate matter (PM) is:
regulated by the U.S. EPA in particle size ranges
Direct effects of air pollutants are those that:
result from contact with pollutants
In the anatomy of the eye, which of the following can adapt to low light conditions and be very sensitive to light:
rods
Which of the following is NOT a typical method of excreting pollutants from the body?
salvia
The main importance in distinguishing an air pollutant as primary or secondary is:
secondary pollutants need interpretation of their formation process prior to control
The hygiene hypothesis referred to in Exhibit 8-2 asserts.
the human environment can be too clean
In the Ideal Gas Law stated as PV=nRT; P is pressure;V is volume;T is temperature;R is the gas constant and n is:
the number of moles
In passive sampling the movement of air into a collection device occurs through:
the process of diffusion
As living organisms are complex, environmental science works to uncover which of the following regarding air pollutants?
the relationship between a given dose and a biological response
As some risks are associated with the quality of life, all but the following are common factors that could affect this.
the right to bear arms
Ammonia facilitates the formation of nitrate particles. Sources of ammonia come from all but the following:
the sulfur in coal
The effective stack height is:
the sum of the stack height plus the rise of the plume
With respect to sensitive sub-populations for the adverse effects of air pollutants, which set of groups are included?
the very young, the very old, and those suffering from cardiovascular diseases
Correct
the volume of air inhaled and exhaled per minute under normal conditions
The validity of a time-series epidemiological study will be weakened if:
there are subjects changing their domiciles during the study
he validity of a time-series epidemiological study will be weakened if:
there are subjects changing their domiciles during the study
For carcinogens, the common and conservative assumption made by regulators and health professionals is:
there is no "safe" or acceptable level of exposure.
The effects of injecting liquid carbon dioxide from emissions into the deep ocean include
there may be unknown ecological effects
The effects of injecting liquid carbon dioxide from emissions into the deep ocean include.
there may be unknown ecological effects
Aerosol particles range in diameter from 0.001 to 100 micrometers. Larger particles do not remain suspended in still air for prolonged periods unless:
they have low specific gravity
It may be difficult to sample certain gaseous air pollutants because they:
they have transient lifetimes
Modern attitudes toward anthropogenic air pollution were shaped by:
thinkers and writers such as Galen, Pliny, and Paracelsus.
An AQI value is calculated for each pollutant in an area and the highest AQI value for the individual pollutants is the AQI value for that day
true
Aside from being components of a healthy natural environment, bioaerosols probably produce more human death, disability and discomfort than any other air contaminant.
true
Associations can be confused with true causal relationships; however, identifying associations between a disease and its potential causal factors is important in the process of establishing the true cause.
true
Both measurable exposure and toxicity are required to assess risk associations with an air pollutant. Therefore, a small exposure to a highly toxic air contaminant may have the same risk as a large exposure to a slightly toxic air contaminant.
true
For many types of cancer the disease appears to be an immune system failure rather than an over exposure to carcinogens
true
For many types of cancer the disease appears to be an immune system failure rather than an over exposure to carcinogens.
true
Guinea pigs are an exquisitely-sensitive animal model with respect to bronchial constriction, and so probably represent the most sensitive human asthmatics in toxicological studies.
true
Hazard identification is NOT just a U.S. regulatory issue. There are dozens of agencies both national and international that do research and publish reports on hazards.
true
In a cyclone particle collector, an artificial g-force (gravitational acceleration) is used.
true
In epidemiological studies a confounder is an unwanted independent variable that distorts the results of a study.
true
In many cases, the failure of experts to disclose uncertainties regarding public health risks can have a great affect on public perceptions of those risks.
true
In the human nose and oral airways ammonia levels are often high enough to neutralize considerable acidity.
true
Nitrogen dioxide levels are usually so low in the United States that they pose little direct threat to human health.
true
One disturbing fact regarding ozone is that the odor detection threshold decreases because of odor fatigue and harmful exposures can persist when no longer detected by the sense of smell.
true
Statistical significance as a mathematical concept depends on the precision and accuracy of measurements, the number of subjects the measurement is made on, and population variability within the subjects.
true
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that sufficient evidence exists for a causal relationship with particulate matter (PM) 2.5 short term exposures and cardiovascular effects.
true
The hazard quotient is a measure of desired protection and not that of a guaranteed outcome.
true
Because emergency department visits are more frequent than hospital admissions, air pollution related statistics are stronger for emergency room visits than hospital admissions.
trueq
The NAAQS are generally more restrictive than TLV's® because:
workers tend to be more healthy than the general population
A time-series study is ongoing. A spike in air pollution occurs and two to three days later there is a rise in emergency room visits for respiratory diseases. Is there reason to believe that the air pollution episode has caused the respiratory effects?
yes
