Env Exam 4

Question 1

Traditional Hazards

Answer 1

Related to poverty and the lack of development, and most likely affecting developing countries and poor people. Water-borne disease, indoor air pollution, etc.

Question 2

Modern hazards

Answer 2

caused by technological development, prevail in industrialized countries where exposure to traditional hazards is low. Urban air pollution.

Question 3

How does antibiotic resistance develop?

Answer 3

Through food to humans. Animals when given antibiotics, can get rid of some bacteria but not all, so then this resistant bacteria spreads through animal products which then we eat.

Question 4

Environmental Toxicology

Answer 4

the study of the health
effects associated with exposure to toxic chemicals occurring in the natural, work, and living environments.

Question 4

Acute effect

Answer 4

occurs rapidly after exposure, at relatively large amounts.

Question 5

Chronic Effect

Answer 5

develops due to long term exposure,
typically, at low levels. Hard to measure.

Question 6

LD50

Answer 6

Dose that is lethal to 50% of a population

Question 7

ED50

Answer 7

dose that causes 50% of a population to exhibit any significant response

Question 8

Environmental Contaminants

Answer 8

Carcinogen, teratogen, mutagen, neurotoxicant, endocrine disruptor

Question 8

Bioremediation

Answer 8

using organisms to clean up pollution.

Question 9

Superfund

Answer 9

Allows the EPA to clean up contaminated sites and forces parties
responsible for the contamination to cleanup or reimburse the
government for cleanup

Question 10

Order of soil horizons

Answer 10

Organic, topsoil, subsoil, substratum, bedrock

Question 10

Point source

Answer 10

Contamination can be traced to specific points of discharge from wastewater treatment plants and factories or from combined sewers.

Question 10

History of Genetic Modification

Answer 10

Humans have modified crops and animals for thousands of
years using traditional breeding practices. Most livestock, crops, and pets were developed by
genetically modifying the traits of wild species. These modified organisms no longer resemble their wild
ancestors

Question 10

Surface Water Resources

Answer 10

Rivers, Lakes, Glaciers

Question 10

River discharge

Answer 10

the volume of water moving through a river channel over time

Question 10

Reservoir

Answer 10

an artificial lake, usually created by damming a river

Question 11

Watershed (drainage basin)

Answer 11

The geographic area drained by a river
and its tributaries

Question 12

Recharge areas

Answer 12

are locations where surface water infiltrates the ground
rather than running into rivers or evaporating.

Question 12

Process of eutrophication

Answer 12

When limiting nutrients are no longer limiting. Nutrient pollution allows for increased growth of
phytoplankton (algal blooms). As phytoplankton die, they become oxygen-demanding
waste and settle on substrate; oxygen is consumed and
waters become hypoxic. Hypoxic or anoxic waters lead to a dead zone that can cause ecological catastrophe

Question 13

Greatest use of water?

Answer 13

Thermoelectric & irrigation

Question 14

Potential Concerns of Genetic Engineering

Answer 14

Interbreeding with native species
Consumers Right to Choose
Long-Term Ecological Effects
Human Health Risk
Intellectual Property Rights

Question 14

Top 3 staple foods

Answer 14

Corn, Rice, Wheat

Question 15

Nonpoint source

Answer 15

a diffuse or unconfined source of pollution

Question 15

Hunger

Answer 15

Also known as chronic undernourishment is
when the number of calories taken in is less than their minimum dietary energy requirement

Question 16

Malnourished

Answer 16

Not receiving enough
macronutrients(calories) or micronutrients

Question 17

Potential Benefits of Genetic Engineering

Answer 17

Enhanced nutrition
Cheaper Production
Reduced pesticides

Question 17

Soil Forming Factors

Answer 17

+ Climate – temperature and precipitation. (growing season length,
decomposition rates)
+ Organisms – organic matter, nutrient cycling, mixing, aerating
+ Relief – soil erosion
+ Parent Material – impacts rate of development and drainage
+ Time – develop and alter over time (thousands to tens of
thousands of years)

Question 18

Characteristics of Conventional Agriculture

Answer 18

● Large capital investments
● Monocultures
● Large-scale farms
● Mechanization
● Pesticides, herbicides
● Fertilizers

Question 19

Conventional Agriculture: Ecological Concerns

Answer 19

● Salinization
● Desertification
● Water pollution
● Water scarcity
● Habitat loss
● Carbon emissions/alteration of carbon cycle (contributing factor
to climate change)

Question 20

Human health

Answer 20

Exposure to pesticides and nitrates.
Antibiotic resistance (associated w/ livestock production)

Question 20

Economic & Social Concerns

Answer 20

Agribusiness: farmers have less control. Fewer farmers, larger
farms. Farmers receiving smaller and smaller portion of
consumer dollars

Question 21

Positive of Chemical Pesticides

Answer 21

Has helped increase agricultural productivity and limit the spread of disease to humans

Question 22

Negative of Chemical Pesticides

Answer 22

Consequences include negative impacts on non-pest species and health impacts on farmers and the public

Question 23

Persistent organic pollutants

Answer 23

toxic chemicals that
adversely affect human health and the environment around the world.
Because they can be transported by wind and water, most POPs
generated in one country can and do affect people and wildlife far from
where they are used and released

Question 23

Endocrine disruptors

Answer 23

mimic or interfere with the
body’s hormones.

Question 23

Bioaccumulative

Answer 23

Chemicals end up in lakes, which small organisms eat, then when they’re eaten, new larger organisms eat those and gain the chemicals, so large organisms that are not as often killed and ate usually hold the most chemicals in them.

Question 24

Grasshopper effect

Answer 24

the geochemical process by which certain chemicals, most notably persistent organic pollutants (POPs), are transported from warmer to colder regions of the Earth, particularly the poles and mountain tops.

Question 25

Sustainable Agriculture

Answer 25

Enhance environmental quality, be efficient, sustain
economic vitality, enhance quality of life for farmers,
satisfy human food and fiber needs.

Question 26

Organic farming

Answer 26

The use of renewable resources, conservation of soil
and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Products come from animals that haven’t had antibiotics, and food comes from plants without pesticides.

Question 27

How much food is wasted in the US?

Answer 27

40% of all food, or 133 billion pounds per year.

Question 28

How do I reduce my food-print?

Answer 28

Eat less meat, “meatless mondays”, and try to eat leftovers more often, or start to grow my own garden.