HPS 178 Environmental Health

Which of the following factors has the biggest influence on reducing fertility rates?

Female education level

By definition, which type of waste poses a direct risk of harm to humans, animals, or the environment?

Hazardous waste Many such wastes are now banned from land disposal or are being treated to reduce their toxicity before they become part of land disposal sites. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the general term for solid waste such as durable and nondurable goods; containers and packaging; food waste; yard waste; and miscellaneous waste from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. Solid waste can be reduced by recycling and through the "combustion with energy recovery" method, which typically involves the use of boilers and industrial furnaces to incinerate waste and use the burning process to generate energy

Which of the following is NOT true in regard to short-term exposure to loud noise?

It increases productivity.

The United States accounts for what percentage of greenhouse gas emissions?

Nearly one-quarter

Joseph owns 10 acres of farmland. When it rains, the water carries soil, fertilizers, and pesticides from his farmland to the nearby creek. What term is associated with this process?

Nonpoint source pollution In contrast, point source pollutants enter a waterway at a specific location such as a pipe, ditch, culvert, or other conduit. The two major sources of point source pollution are sewage treatment plants and industrial facilities. Carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases produced, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon in which greenhouse gases form a layer in the atmosphere, allowing solar heat to pass through and trapping some of the heat close to the surface, where it warms the planet

Which radioactive gas is potentially cancer-causing, and can seep into a home from the ground below?

Radon Radon is a radioactive gas that is potentially cancer-causing, and can seep into a home from the ground below. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, each year. Asbestos is a mineral compound that was once commonly used in insulating materials. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas released from mobile sources such as vehicles. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas that dissolves in water vapor to form acid and interacts with other gases and particles in the air.

Which of the following is a gaseous pollutant released by coal-burning power plants and oil refineries? Carbon monoxide Carbon dioxide Nitrogen dioxide Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide

Which federal program financed by tax revenues is involved in cleaning up toxic waste dumps?

Superfund

A country that attempts to meet the needs of its current population without compromising the needs of future generations is pursuing what type of development?

Sustainable

All of the following are effects of overpopulation EXCEPT __________. a negative impact on food supply changes in the ecosystem a negative impact on water supply an increase in food availability

an increase in food availability

Greenhouse gases include all of the following EXCEPT __________. chlorofluorocarbons carbon monoxide ozone carbon dioxide

carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide is NOT a greenhouse gas. It is an air pollutant that contributes to the formation of smog. Greenhouse gases are gases that accumulate in the atmosphere, where they contribute to global warming by trapping heat near the earth's surface. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas; chlorofluorocarbons and ozone are also greenhouse gases.

Chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer are __________.

chlorofluorocarbons The U.S. government banned the use of CFCs, and today, more than 197 United Nations countries have agreed to basic protocols designed to preserve and protect the ozone layer. However, some CFC replacements may also cause ozone-layer damage. Greenhouse gases are gases that accumulate in the atmosphere, where they contribute to global warming by trapping heat near the earth's surface. Particulate matter, such as soil, dust, and volcanic ash, is a naturally occurring air pollutant. Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were used for many years as insulating materials in high-voltage electrical equipment, is associated with birth defects, cancer, and skin problems.

Sound levels are measured in units called __________.

decibels

All of the following health problems are associated with indoor air pollution EXCEPT ___________. decreased allergic reactions and allergies respiratory problems reduced immune system function increased risk of cancers

decreased allergic reactions and allergies The air within homes and other buildings can be 10 to 40 times more hazardous than outdoor air, even in the most industrialized cities. Potentially dangerous chemical compounds can increase risks of cancer, contribute to respiratory problems, reduce immune system functions, and increase problems with allergies and allergic reactions.

Some herbicides contain highly toxic substances known as __________.

dioxins

The major source of indoor air pollution is __________.

environmental tobacco smoke

A possible source of indoor air pollution is a gas present in some carpets and furniture, which is __________.

formaldehyde

A metal pollutant often found in paint in older buildings is __________.

lead

The barrier that protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays is the __________.

ozone layer

The practice aimed at stabilizing world population in which each couple has no more than two children is known as __________.

zero population growth

Scientists estimate that the earth's temperature will continue to rise by how much in the next 100 years unless measures are taken to prevent it?

2°F to 11°F

Which of the following can occur when asbestos fibers become loosened and airborne and embed themselves in the lungs? Stomach cancer Asbestosis Mesothelioma All options are correct.

All options are correct. When asbestos fibers become loosened and airborne and embed themselves in the lungs, their presence leads to mesothelioma, asbestosis, stomach cancer, and cancer of the lungs and chest lining. When bonded to other materials, asbestos is relatively harmless.

In the next four decades, which areas are projected to account for the highest levels of population growth?

Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean

The main source of which odorless, colorless gas is motor vehicle emissions?

Carbon monoxide

Which of the following is an effect of high levels of acid deposition? Damage to plant and animal life Expansion of forests Cloudy ponds and lakes Higher levels of PCBs

Damage to plant and animal life