Environmental Hazards (S2U5)

Question 1

Radon

Answer 1

colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that’s released when uranium decays.

Question 2

Asbestos

Answer 2

A chronic lung disease caused by breathing asbestos fibers

Question 3

True or False: Mold can occur when there is moisture and a lack of circulation

Answer 3

True

Question 4

This hazard is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer

Answer 4

Radon

Question 5

What level of Radon is considered dangerous?

Answer 5

4 Picocuries per liter of air (but anything above 0 is considered unsafe)

Question 6

2 places radon is commonly found?

Answer 6

soil and well water

Question 7

Common places where Radon enters the home?

Answer 7

Chimney cracks
Floor joists
Water
Soil tracked in from outside
Floor drains
Sump pumps
Cracks in concrete
porous walls

Question 8

When radon is found, what can you do to eliminate it?

Answer 8

1) install a system that vents and filters the radon from the home
2) Seal any cracks or spaces in the concrete slab, foundation walls, or chimneys (Homes with crawl spaces may need a special plastic liner)

Question 9

Where can Asbestos be found?

Answer 9

Insulation
Ceiling Tiles
Vinyl Floor
Insulation around hot water pipes and steam pipes
Wall and ceiling paint
Rocks and soil
Roofs
Heating systems

Question 10

True or false: Mold needs moisture to grow so leaks should be fixed immediately.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Brownfields

Answer 11

abandoned or otherwise unused commercial or industrial sites, many of which are suspected to contain hazardous waste, contaminants, or pollutants.

Question 12

The Small Business Liabilities Relief & Brownfields Revitalization Act (Brownsfield Law):

Answer 12

enacted in 2002 to provide funds to both assess and clean up the many thousands of brownfields that are believed to exist nationally.

Question 13

Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

Answer 13

most common greenhouse gas emitted by human activities.

Question 14

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs):

Answer 14

organic chemical compounds made up of only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine.

Question 15

Formaldehyde:

Answer 15

a flammable gas at room temperature that has a strong odor.

Question 16

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs):

Answer 16

a medium used for cooling and insulation in electronic transformers.

Question 17

Underground Storage Tanks (USTs):

Answer 17

tanks and any connected underground piping that has at least 10% of its volume underground, These tanks generally store fuel or other hazardous substances.

Question 18

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act

Answer 18

The goals of the RCRA are to protect people from waste disposal hazards; conserve energy and natural resources by using recovery and recycling; eliminate or reduce waste where possible; and clean up any waste that has leaked or spilled, or was not disposed of in the proper manner.

Question 19

Waste disposal sites/landfills can be subject to what?

Answer 19

uncontrolled surface emissions of landfill gases into the air. These gases contain carbon dioxide, methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hazardous air pollutants and “odorous” compounds that can adversely affect public health and the environment.

Question 20

Underground storage tanks are prone to leaks after how many years?

Answer 20

10 to 15 years

Question 21

If old oil tanks exist on a property, research should be done for what?

Answer 21

To see if the UST was properly decommissioned