public health 203 final exam
28. In the U.S., disinfection of drinking water with chlorine or other methods is done to remove
Answer: Pathogenic microorganisms
16. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are
Answer: Persistent in the environment
6. Subacute exposures are those that last for
Answer: One month or less
34. Water scarcity is defined as
Answer: An annual supply of renewable freshwater less than 1,000 cubic meters per person
49. A product (that could be used as a fuel) that results from anaerobic decomposition of garbage in a landfill is
Answer: Methane
24. If I passed through a radiation detector carrying Polonium 210 stored in a glass vial in my pocket, would the detector alarm go off?
Answer: No - Polonium 210 emits alpha radiation.
4. During April 2009, a Texas community reported 87 cases of H1N1 associated influenza. Ultimately, 9 fatal cases of H1N1 occurred during this same month. There were 4 other fatalities. The CFR associated with H1N1 during April was:
Answer: 9/87 × 100
41. Smog complex is
Answer: A condition associated with smog that causes eye irritation, irritation of the respiratory tract, and chest pains
7. The principle of environmental sustainability states that
Answer: A strong, just, and wealthy society can be consistent with a clean environment.
59. We discussed several examples of environmental justice over the semester. Provide an example of an environmental justice issue we discussed in class and briefly describe the issue. You should be able to do this in 2-3 sentences. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: A topic we talked about an environmental justice issue was food deserts in Chicago. A food desert is an urban location, which is unable to buy affordable fresh/good quality produce within one mile. On the map of Chicago, food deserts are almost exclusively in places where African-Americans live.
52. We discussed how water is used in the United States this semester. Which one of the following uses the most freshwater in our country?
Answer: Agriculture
35. All of the following statements are true regarding hydraulic fracturing EXCEPT:
Answer: All chemicals used in fracking fluid are disclosed to the public [Correct answers: A. Involves horizontal drilling underground C. Used to access natural gas deposits stored in shale formations D. The public is concerned about contamination of drinking water wells from fracking E. Hydraulic fracturing is exempt from safe drinking water regulation]
27. The effects of ionizing radiation include
Answer: All of the above [A. Damage to bodily tissues B. Damage to DNA C. Formation of ion pairs in exposed atoms D. Removal of orbital electrons from neutral atoms]
25. Bodily injury from radiation depends on
Answer: All of the above [A. Exposure dose (rems) B. The cumulative effects of exposure C. Whether the whole body or part of the body is exposed D. Individual susceptibility]
45. Hazards associated with sanitary landfill operations include
Answer: All of the above [A. Spreading of disease by scavenging animals B. Leaching of nutrients into adjacent waterways C. Air pollution D. Release of VOCs]
48. The Love Canal site
Answer: All of the above [A. Was a notorious toxic waste site in New York State B. Led to the creation of the Superfund C. Was repopulated in the 1990s D. Generated concerns about the health of residents who lived in the area]
3. Which of the following statements is true about cohort studies?
Answer: All of the above [A. Subjects are classified according to their exposure. B. They are a type of longitudinal design. C. They may be either prospective or retrospective. D. The measure of association is called relative risk.]
30. The microbial agent Giardia intestinalis is an example of
Answer: An enteric protozoal parasite
12. Melanosis are associated with ingestion of
Answer: Arsenic
36. The least likely explanation for global warming is that it is due to
Answer: Normal variations in the earth's temperature
67. The US Federal government sets standards for various parts of the environment; for example, the Federal action level for lead in drinking water is 20 parts per billion. States are free to set their own standards if they wish. These levels must be:
Answer: At concentrations lower than allowed by federal standards
9. The definition of emerging zoonoses covers
Answer: B and C [B. Both new and previously known agents C. Appearance of agents in regions not usually affected]
15. Which of the following pesticides is (are) associated with the "Golden Age of Discovery"?
Answer: B and C [B. Chlorinated hydrocarbons C. Organophosphates]
18. Biopesticides include
Answer: Canola oil
19. By definition, an organic chemical contains which of the following:
Answer: Carbon
57. Which two contribute the most to warming of the climate?
Answer: Carbon dioxide and methane
39. Carboxyhemoglobin may be formed when a person inhales air that contains
Answer: Carbon monoxide
21. A major concern of exposure to extremely low frequency radiation has been
Answer: Childhood leukemia and brain cancers
13. Lindane, mirex, and DDT all belong to a group of pesticides called
Answer: Chlorinated hydrocarbons
53. All of the following are effective strategies to reduce UVR exposure except for:
Answer: Choosing to sunbathe in the middle of the day
17. One of the concerns that surrounded the use of Agent Orange was that it
Answer: Contained very small amounts of dioxin
33. A microbial agent that can survive treatment with chlorine is
Answer: Cryptosporidium parvum
37. Identify the incorrect statement regarding diesel exhaust
Answer: Diesel particles have a net cooling effect on climate. [Correct answers: A. Widespread exposure to diesel exhaust occurs in the community. B. Public health experts have named it a probable carcinogen. C. Older vehicles do not have the advantage of advanced emissions controls. E. It is a mixture of particles and gases.]
63. Describe the difference between physical and economic water scarcity. You should be able to do this in 2-3 sentences. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: Economic water scarcity mean there is water, but it is not being made available to the public because there is not enough money to do so. Physical water scarcity means there is literally no water available.
1. On Airs, Waters, and Places was significant because it
Answer: Emphasized the role of the environment in people's health
60. A significant cause of Indoor air pollution in developing countries is efficient burning of biomass fuels. [True/False]
Answer: False
69. True or False: If President Trump is able to eliminate the EPA, this will automatically delete most, if not all, of our environmental health laws.
Answer: False
70. True or False: Manufacturers have replaced BPA proactively with other synthetic compounds (like BPF or BPS) in consumer products, mainly because we know them to be much safer than BPA.
Answer: False
71. Highly unstable radioisotopes will have much longer half-lives than stable radioisotopes. [True/False]
Answer: False
72. True or False: Food deserts are mainly caused by the lack of irrigation in farms that produce food products.
Answer: False
65. Traffic fatalities per VMT have declined in the US. But total traffic fatalities have remained level over the past 20 years. Why? [Fill in the blank]
Answer: Fatalities have decreased per mile traveled, but traffic fatalities have remained level over the last twenty years because the exposure, measured by total vehicle miles traveled (VMTs), continues to grow.
73. Which of the following is a significant receptor of treated effluent from UMass sewage?
Answer: Feedwater into the UMass steam plant
40. A temperature inversion causes a(an)
Answer: Greater concentration of pollutants close to the earth's surface
50. All of the following are true about atrazine except:
Answer: Has been linked with abnormalities in humans [Correct answers: A. Has been linked with hormonal changes in frogs B. Is used as a herbicide in the United States D. Is detectable in spring water in the Midwest E. Is banned as a herbicide in the European Union]
2. The author of On Airs, Waters, and Places was
Answer: Hippocrates
51. All of the following statements about fecal coliform are true except:
Answer: If fecal coliform is identified in your drinking water, you will get sick [Correct answers: A. A good indicator of sewage contamination B. Many fecal coliform bacteria are harmless to humans C. E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria E. E. coli is a good indicator for freshwater contamination]
42. All of the following effects have been associated with air pollution except:
Answer: Increases in osteoporosis
46. The term pollution denotes
Answer: Introduction into the natural environment by humans of potentially harmful substances, materials, or energy
20. Alpha radiation is non-penetrating and therefore
Answer: It is dangerous when ingested or inhaled and localizes in certain tissues.
5. Which of the following abbreviations is used to describe toxic effects of chemicals?
Answer: LD50
26. Compared to ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation has:
Answer: Longer wavelengths and lower frequency
10. One of the differences between Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is that
Answer: Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and RMSF by a rickettsial agent.
Answer: Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and RMSF by a rickettsial agent.
Answer: Mercury
64. We discussed the export of electronic waste out of the United States and its disposal in other countries. Describe two reasons why other countries accept our electronic waste. You can answer in 1-2 sentences. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: One reason is they take our electronic waste is because they repurpose it for profit. The other reason is that it provides jobs for them.
58. All of the following are true about the Air Quality Index except:
Answer: Only used to describe ozone concentrations [Correct answers: A. Conveys air quality data in an easy-to-understand format B. Is a color-coded system (e.g. green, orange, red) C. Focuses on short-term health effects D. Can be used to characterize air quality outside of the United States]
8. What problem may be encountered in the problem definition stage?
Answer: Poorly defined problems
61. Define the precautionary principle. You should be able to do this in one sentence. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: Preventative measures should be taken when there is a reasonable possibility of harm
32. The human actions are significant causes of coastal degradation include all EXCEPT:
Answer: Pumping of groundwater wells
29. Drinking water treatment involves all the following except
Answer: Removal of all dissolved chemicals
47. The primary stage of sewage processing involves
Answer: Settlement of suspended solids
22. The term that refers to low levels of ionizing radiation exposure over long time periods that are associated with an increased probability of the occurrence of an adverse health event is
Answer: Stochastic effect
31. To ensure the safety of all bottled drinking water in the United States, standards are set by
Answer: The FDA
38. Acid rain is
Answer: The precipitation of acidic compounds formed when components of air pollution interact with other components in the air
43. The greatest danger of medical waste is to
Answer: Those who are occupationally exposed onsite
44. The most frequently recycled materials is
Answer: Used automobile batteries
62. How might the precautionary principle be applied to the use of phthalates or bisphenol-A in consumer products? You should be able to describe how the principle could be applied in no more than 2-3 sentences. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: When scientists realize that BPA was acting as an estrogenic hence mimicking estrogen in humans, FDA decided to ban BPA in children's bottles and cups in 2012. This ban was to prevent harm onto the next generation.
66. List two human health concerns described in the 60 minutes video about electronic waste disposal that we watched in class. You can describe in one sentence each. [Fill in the blank]
Answer: When they break down the electronics, the pollution emitted into the air is highly polluted with polychlorinated dioxins and the rate of miscarriages is high. Also the amount of lead in the children's blood is one of the highest.
68. President-elect Trump, while running for office, expressed an interest in abolishing the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Is it possible for the President to do this?
Answer: Yes
23. Which of the following forms of radiation can penetrate up to a 2-cm layer of skin tissue?
Answer: beta particles
54. Stanley Watras, an employee of the Limerick Nuclear Plant, was exposed to high levels of radon
Answer: from his home
14. What is considered to be the mode of action resulting from an insect's exposure to an Organophosphate
Answer: inhibit acetylcholinesterase **Fun fact: Organophosphates are typically used as herbicides and would not harm an insect**
56. For water bodies like the Hudson River and the Housatonic River that are contaminated with PCBs, what is the most common method of removing the PCBs from the river? [Fill in the blank]
Dredging
55. Name one example of a non-selective herbicide we discussed in class. [Fill in the blank]
Roundup