APES Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

Which of the different components of smog depicted in the graph are most likely released from automobile exhaust? A AA and BB B BB and CC C AA, BB, and CC D BB, CC, and DD

A AA and BB

Which of the following best describes the advantage of using hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to replace chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in industrial processes? A HFCs and HCFCs have lower ozone-depleting potentials than CFCsCFCs do. B HFCs and HCFCs are more stable than CFCs are in the atmosphere. C HFCs and HCFCs are not classified as greenhouse gases but CFCs are. D HFCs and HCFCs are less expensive to produce than CFCs are.

A HFCs and HCFCs have lower ozone-depleting potentials than CFCsCFCs do.

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following would be the best location to obtain a water sample from to determine if the paper plant is affecting the acidity of the river? A Immediately downstream from the paper plant B Immediately upstream from the paper plant C At an upstream tributary to the river D At a downstream tributary to the river

A Immediately downstream from the paper plant

An engineer is assigned the task of reducing the air pollutants being released from a power plant that generates electricity by burning coal. The engineer performs a variety of computer simulations to determine which techniques and methods would be most effective at reducing air pollution generated by the plant. The air pollutant that computer simulations would likely show as being the most reduced by the use of fluidized-bed combustion in the boiler furnaces A Sulfur dioxide B Carbon dioxide C Carbon monoxide D Particulate matter

A Sulfur dioxide

The data that were used to create this graph were collected in the winter. Which of the following best describes how the graph would be different if the data were collected in the middle of the summer? A The peaks for every data line would be at a lower concentration. B Concentrations for component CC would be higher throughout the graph. C Concentrations for all the data lines would be the horizontal throughout the day. D Components AA, BB, and DD would peak in the afternoon instead of in the morning.

B Concentrations for component CC would be higher throughout the graph.

Which of the following describes a negative effect of substituting hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in an effort to reduce ozone depletion? A Hydrofluorocarbons are prohibitively expensive to produce and are not widely used in industry. B Some type of hydrofluorocarbons are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. C Hydrofluorocarbons can interact with NOxNOx and VOCsVOCs in the troposphere to produce photochemical smog. D High levels of hydrofluorocarbons in the stratosphere can lead to physiological stress and decreased growth in plants.

B Some type of hydrofluorocarbons are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

If the air layers in the diagram were relabeled to illustrate normal atmospheric conditions, the correct labeling from the air layer closest to the Earth's surface to the one farthest from the Earth's surface would be A cool air, cooler air, warm air B warm air, cool air, cooler air C cooler air, warm air, cool air D cooler air, cool air, warm air

B warm air, cool air, cooler air

Which of the curves on the graph depicts the concentration of ozone, which requires sunlight to form? A A B B C C D D

C C

In the figure above, the letters A, B, and C represent the different thermal layers present in an inversion. Which of the following shows the correct sequence of thermal layers as one moves vertically upwards from the surface of Earth? A Warm sea breeze →→ Cool →→ Warm B Warm sea breeze →→ Warm →→ Cool C Cool sea breeze →→ Warm →→ Cool D Cool sea breeze →→ Cooler →→ Coolest

C Cool sea breeze →→ Warm →→ Cool

Which of the following types of releases of greenhouse gases from an anthropogenic source is shown in the diagram? A Volcanic eruptions emitting CO2 into the atmosphere B Release of VOCsfrom tree species and motor vehicles into the atmosphere C Industrial and agricultural practices releasing CH4 into the atmosphere D Evaporation of surface water increasing H2O vapor in the atmosphere

C Industrial and agricultural practices releasing CH4 into the atmosphere

Over a three-year period, a city's environmental protection department measured the particulate matter (PM2.5) in a ten-square-mile area around one of the city's coal-fired power plants. The annual mean level of PM2.5 measured was 20.0μgm3 over the three-year study period. The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 is an annual mean level of 12.0μgm3, averaged over three years. The city instructs the manager of the power plant to propose a plan to aid the city in meeting the NAAQS for PM2.5 in the area around the power plant over the next ten years. Which of the following would be the most effective plan for the manager to propose to the city? A Install catalytic converters at the plant. B Install vapor recovery nozzles at the plant. C Install electrostatic precipitators at the plant. D Burn lignite coal instead of bituminous coal at the plant.

C Install electrostatic precipitators at the plant.

Noise Exposure and Public Health Exposure to noise constitutes a health risk. There is sufficient scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance, and decreased school performance. For other effects such as changes in the immune system and birth defects, the evidence is limited. Most public health impacts of noise were already identified in the 1960s, and noise abatement is less of a scientific but primarily a policy problem. A subject for further research is the [clarification] of the mechanisms underlying noise-induced cardiovascular disorders and the relationship of noise with annoyance and nonacoustical factors modifying health outcomes. A high-priority study subject is the effect of noise on children, including cognitive effects and their reversibility. Noise exposure is on the increase, especially in the general living environment, both in industrialized nations and in developing world regions. This implies that in the twenty-first century noise exposure will still be a major public health problem. Which of the following best describes why the authors claim that reducing noise exposure is currently more of a public policy problem than a scientific problem? A There is sufficient scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hypertension and heart disease. B The relationship of noise with annoyance that negatively impacts human health is a subject for future research. C Most public health impacts of noise were already identified in the 1960s. D It is unclear whether negative cognitive effects are reversible in humans.

C Most public health impacts of noise were already identified in the 1960s.

Scientists have been monitoring CO2 in the atmosphere from Mauna Loa in Hawaii since 1958. Which of the following units is used by scientists to measure CO2 in the atmosphere? A Dobson units B Percent saturation C Parts per million D pHpH

C Parts per million

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following water quality indicators should be measured to best determine if the wastewater is increasing the acidity of the river? A The amount of dissolved oxygen B The total suspended solids C The amount of hydrogen ions D The species richness

C The amount of hydrogen ions

Canada has proposed an action plan to address climate change and air pollution. The action plan will reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and pollutants on the environment and human health. Which of the following claims about the Canadian action plan is best supported by the data in the graph? A The plan encourages the transition from electricity generation from nuclear power to electricity generation from cleaner-burning natural gas. B The plan focuses on increasing regulation on installation and maintenance of catalytic converters in vehicle exhaust systems. C The plan supports phasing out traditional coal power plants and transitioning to sources like hydroelectricity, wind, and solar power. D The plan provides a strategy for reducing the amount of plastic wastes in landfills through the production of long-lasting and durable plastics.

C The plan supports phasing out traditional coal power plants and transitioning to sources like hydroelectricity, wind, and solar power.

A student is setting up a model to study the carbon cycle and natural sources of carbon dioxide. They create a microenvironment that contains soil, leaf debris, an earthworm, heterotrophic bacteria, and a sun lamp. What natural source of carbon dioxide and major metabolic process was left out of the model? A There is no representation of decomposition in the model environment. B There is no representation of cellular respiration in the model environment. C There is no representation of photosynthesis in the model environment. D There is no representation of ingestion in the model environment.

C There is no representation of photosynthesis in the model environment.

A paper company located on the banks of a river discharges its treated wastewater into the river. Which of the following would be the best control group to evaluate the treated wastewater from the paper company? A A sample of distilled water B A sample of water from a nearby river C A sample of water downstream from the same river D A sample of water upstream from the same river

D A sample of water upstream from the same river

Which of the following best explains the cause of the trend shown in the graph for lead emissions in the United States from 1970 to 2011 ? A By 1990, all new model cars were equipped with internal fabric filters that effectively filtered car exhaust and reduced lead emissions. B Beginning in 1975, The Clean Air Act required new cars to have catalytic converters, which effectively converted the lead found in gasoline to water vapor. C New air-scrubber technologies were introduced in the late 1970s that effectively removed lead in the air and converted it into water vapor. D Unleaded gasoline was first introduced in 1974, and amendments to the Clean Air Act required cars with the model year 1975 or later to use only unleaded gasoline.

D Unleaded gasoline was first introduced in 1974, and amendments to the Clean Air Act required cars with the model year 1975 or later to use only unleaded gasoline.

Scientists have observed that the health of people living in moderately developed regions, which have developed transportation and industry but lack environmental control measures, is more likely to be affected by urban outdoor pollution than by indoor air pollution. Which of the following activities would most likely account for the levels of indoor air pollution in India and sub-Saharan Africa, as shown in the graph? A Construction of homes with more efficient insulation and increased ventilation B Use of biomass fuel sources such as wood and charcoal for cooking C Industrial power plants burning fossil fuels for electrical energy generation D Use of chemical pesticides on croplands

B Use of biomass fuel sources such as wood and charcoal for cooking

Scientists have observed that the health of people living in moderately developed regions, which have developed transportation and industry but lack environmental control measures, is more likely to be affected by urban outdoor pollution than by indoor air pollution. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data presented in the graph? A In moderately developed regions such as China and Latin America, an individual's health is more or as likely to be affected by urban outdoor pollution than by indoor pollution. B Developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa are less affected by indoor air pollution because there is no source of radon in the region. C Indoor air pollutants decrease and urban outdoor pollutants increase as countries become more industrialized. D The amount of both indoor and outdoor air pollution is directly linked to the size of each region.

A In moderately developed regions such as China and Latin America, an individual's health is more or as likely to be affected by urban outdoor pollution than by indoor pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States recommends taking corrective measures to reduce exposure to radon gas. The EPA has set an action level of 4pCiL for radon gas. The graph below shows radon samples taken from seventeen buildings in California. The radon samples were taken from the air inside the buildings, and the uranium concentrations were sampled from the soil under the buildings. Data points from four of the seventeen building locations are labeled A-D. Which of the following conclusions can best be drawn from the data in the graph? A Location A has the greatest need for remediation because the radon levels in the building are the highest and exceed the EPA action level. B Location B has the lowest need for remediation because the radon levels in the building are below the suggested action level. C Location C has the greatest need for remediation because the radon levels in the soil are the highest. D Location D has the lowest need for remediation because there is no measurable radon in the air or the soil samples.

A Location A has the greatest need for remediation because the radon levels in the building are the highest and exceed the EPA action level.

Based on the data above, which of the following hypotheses about the future conditions in the Arctic is most plausible if the trend seen from 2011 to 2017 continues? A The albedo will decrease. B The amount of carbon dioxide released from combustion of fossil fuels will decrease. C The population specialist species, such as polar bears, will increase. D The amount of solar energy radiated back into space will increase.

A The albedo will decrease.

Based on the diagram, which of the following best predicts how an increase in greenhouse gases would affect the ocean? A The oceans would be warmed because of increased solar radiation being absorbed by the water, causing expansion and sea level rise. B The oceans would be cooled from melting ice caps and glaciers, causing an increase in ocean currents and sea level rise. C The oceans would absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, causing an increase in ocean pH and a decrease in temperature. D The oceans would have greater rates of evaporation from increased surface water temperatures, causing a decrease in the amount of nutrients in the water and a decrease in sea level.

A The oceans would be warmed because of increased solar radiation being absorbed by the water, causing expansion and sea level rise.

Based on the data above, which of the following is the most likely conclusion of a study addressing the following scientific question.What will happen to methane levels in the atmosphere at 60°N to 75°N latitude from 2018 to 2027 if the trend from 2011 to 2017 continues? A Methane levels in the atmosphere will increase because of increased growth of producers at latitudes greater than 60°N B Methane levels in the atmosphere will increase because melting or thawing permafrost will lead to an increase in the amount of organic matter that will decompose. C Methane levels in the atmosphere will decrease because melting sea ice will increase transportation in the ocean by ships at latitudes greater than 60°N D Methane levels in the atmosphere will decrease because oil and gas exploration will increase as permafrost continues to melt or thaw.

B Methane levels in the atmosphere will increase because melting or thawing permafrost will lead to an increase in the amount of organic matter that will decompose.

Which of the following best describes the importance of ozone in the stratosphere to life on Earth? A Ozone reflects XX-rays from the Sun back into space. B Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. C Ozone helps to moderate surface temperature by absorbing CO2CO2 and CH4CH4. D Ozone increases mutation rates and accelerates evolution in a variety of species.

B Ozone absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Based on the data above, which of the following best supports the hypothesis that the Arctic (latitudes greater than 66°N) experienced accelerated warming compared to the rest of the planet from 2011 to 2017 ? A The smallest average surface-temperature change occurred at about −80° latitude in the Antarctic. B The largest areas with surface-temperature changes greater than a 4°C increase are found in the Arctic. C Northern Australia warmed more than the ocean off the west coast of Australia did. D The average surface-temperature change at the equator was about a 0.6°C increase.

B The largest areas with surface-temperature changes greater than a 4°C increase are found in the Arctic.

Noise Exposure and Public Health Exposure to noise constitutes a health risk. There is sufficient scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance, and decreased school performance. For other effects such as changes in the immune system and birth defects, the evidence is limited. Most public health impacts of noise were already identified in the 1960s, and noise abatement is less of a scientific but primarily a policy problem. A subject for further research is the [clarification] of the mechanisms underlying noise-induced cardiovascular disorders and the relationship of noise with annoyance and nonacoustical factors modifying health outcomes. A high-priority study subject is the effect of noise on children, including cognitive effects and their reversibility. Noise exposure is on the increase, especially in the general living environment, both in industrialized nations and in developing world regions. This implies that in the twenty-first century noise exposure will still be a major public health problem. Which of the following best describes why the authors do not claim that noise exposure induces birth defects in humans? A There is sufficient evidence that exposure to noise induces some health risks in humans. B There is insufficient evidence to support that noise exposure induces birth defects in humans. C Noise exposure can induce hearing impairment and decreased school performance. D A high-priority study subject is the effect of noise on children.

B There is insufficient evidence to support that noise exposure induces birth defects in humans.

Based on the diagram, which of the following best illustrates how the biosphere can affect global climate change? A Glaciers and snow reflect back the Sun's energy, decreasing the amount of sunlight absorbed and decreasing the surface temperature. B Greater amounts of incoming UV radiation reach Earth when the ozone is depleted, increasing the rates of skin cancer and cataracts in humans. C Producers use solar energy for photosynthesis, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increasing the amount of carbon sequestered in plant tissue. D Warmer atmospheric temperatures decrease cloud cover, reducing the volume of global precipitation.

C Producers use solar energy for photosynthesis, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increasing the amount of carbon sequestered in plant tissue.

Based on the layers in the diagram, which of the following best explains why a thermal inversion tends to concentrate pollutants in the air layer closest to the Earth's surface? A The air layer that is the second closest to the Earth's surface is less dense than the layer above it. B The inversion layer is warmer than the air layer that is farthest from the Earth's surface. C The air layer closest to the Earth's surface is denser than the layer above it. D The air layer that is farthest from the Earth's surface contains the coolest air.

C The air layer closest to the Earth's surface is denser than the layer above it.

Stratospheric ozone (O3) is essential for life to exist on Earth because it A absorbs incoming visible light from the Sun, increasing rates of photosynthesis B reflects incoming visible light from the Sun back into space, increasing rates of cellular respiration C absorbs incoming solar UV-C radiation, preventing exposure to dangerous radiation from the Sun D reflects incoming solar UV-C radiation back into space, decreasing the average temperature in terrestrial biomes

C absorbs incoming solar UV-C radiation, preventing exposure to dangerous radiation from the Sun

Which of the following best identifies the reason that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were banned in 1996 by the Montreal Protocol? A CFCs increased acid deposition in northern latitudes. B CFCs increased the rates of cancer in workers in mining operations. C CFCs led to a spike in the number of respiratory illnesses diagnosed in children. D CFCs led to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

D CFCs led to the destruction of stratospheric ozone.

Which of the following best describes the effect of temperature on the chemical reactions that result in ozone layer depletion? A An increase in global temperatures causes an increase in kinetic energy, so chlorine atoms can break down ozone faster and more often in the troposphere. B Low temperatures in the stratosphere break down polar stratospheric clouds that release harmful chlorine containing compounds that break down ozone. C The increase in carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere released from anthropogenic and natural sources break down ozone, creating ozone thinning over highly populated areas. D Low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free radicals of chlorine, which result in the breakdown of ozone at the beginning of the antarctic spring.

D Low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free radicals of chlorine, which result in the breakdown of ozone at the beginning of the antarctic spring.

Noise Exposure and Public Health Exposure to noise constitutes a health risk. There is sufficient scientific evidence that noise exposure can induce hearing impairment, hypertension and heart disease, annoyance, sleep disturbance, and decreased school performance. For other effects such as changes in the immune system and birth defects, the evidence is limited. Most public health impacts of noise were already identified in the 1960s, and noise abatement is less of a scientific but primarily a policy problem. A subject for further research is the [clarification] of the mechanisms underlying noise-induced cardiovascular disorders and the relationship of noise with annoyance and nonacoustical factors modifying health outcomes. A high-priority study subject is the effect of noise on children, including cognitive effects and their reversibility. Noise exposure is on the increase, especially in the general living environment, both in industrialized nations and in developing world regions. This implies that in the twenty-first century noise exposure will still be a major public health problem. Which of the following best describes why the authors claim that noise exposure will be a major health problem in the twenty-first century? A There is sufficient evidence to support that noise exposure negatively impacts the immune system. B Further research is needed concerning the mechanisms underlying noise-induced cardiovascular disorders. C There is insufficient evidence to support that noise exposure induces sleep disturbance in humans. D Noise exposure is on the increase in both industrialized nations and in developing regions.

D Noise exposure is on the increase in both industrialized nations and in developing regions.

An engineer is assigned the task of reducing the air pollutants being released from a power plant that generates electricity by burning coal. The engineer performs a variety of computer simulations to determine which techniques and methods would be most effective at reducing air pollution generated by the plant. The air pollutant that computer simulations would likely show as being the most reduced by the installation of baghouse filters in exhaust systems A Sulfur dioxide B Carbon dioxide C Carbon monoxide D Particulate matter

D Particulate matter

An engineer is assigned the task of reducing the air pollutants being released from a power plant that generates electricity by burning coal. The engineer performs a variety of computer simulations to determine which techniques and methods would be most effective at reducing air pollution generated by the plant. The air pollutant that computer simulations would likely show as being the most reduced by the installation of electrostatic precipitators in exhaust systems A Sulfur dioxide B Carbon dioxide C Carbon monoxide D Particulate matter

D Particulate matter

Which of the following sources should be examined in a study to determine the impact of a geologic source on levels of CO2 in the atmosphere? A Photosynthesis B Cellular respiration C Decomposition D Volcanoes

D Volcanoes