ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES [003][004/006/008][005][007][009][013] + RCT analysis

Question 1

What is the most prevalent method of solid waste disposal?

Answer 1

Landfill.

Question 2

Benefits of controlled sanitary landfill?

Answer 2

methane gas produced by anaerobic decomposition can be recovered for use

Question 3

Potential danger from landfills?

Answer 3

Landfill under sanitary conditions must be in compacted earth far from ground and surface water to prevent seepage of toxic materials and potentially explosive gas accumulation

Question 4

Open dumping vs controlled sanitary landfills?

Answer 4

Controlled sanitary landfill: spreading garbage in layers 8–10 feet deep and covering them with a thin layer of soil. EXPENSIVE
Open dumping: large scale area where trash is piled on top of each other. INEXPENSIVE

Question 5

Disadvantages of open dumping?

Answer 5

1- Open dumping spreading foul odors
2- Open dumping provides the area for germs, viruses, and vermin to breed; so, it becomes the source of many diseases
3- Open dumping can contaminates the ground water and soil
4- Open dumping prone to cause slide down
5- Open dumping wastes unnecessarily large area.

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Question 6

What is composting?

Answer 6

Composting is a process involving Biological decomposition of organic waste (byproducts of wood and food processing) into humus, which is a good fertilizer for plants, under controlled aerobic conditions.

Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as leaves and food scraps, into a valuable fertilizer that can enrich soil and plants. Anything that grows decomposes eventually; composting simply speeds up the process by providing an ideal environment for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposing organisms (such as worms, sowbugs, and nematodes) to do their work. The resulting decomposed matter, which often ends up looking like fertile garden soil, is called compost. Fondly referred to by farmers as “black gold,” compost is rich in nutrients and can be used for gardening, horticulture, and agriculture.

Question 7

Benefit of composting?

Answer 7

reduce soil pollution from petroleum-based products.

Question 8

What is incineration and when do we use it?

Answer 8

A method of waste disposal. Incineration involves converting waste materials into ash (by burning it), flue gas, and heat. The flue gases are supposed to be cleaned of particulate and gaseous contaminants before being released into the air
- It is used where a suitable land for controlled landfill is not available.

Question 9

What are dioxins and furans?

Answer 9

Carcinogenic pollutants emitted from incinerators.

Question 10

What is the method of choice for getting rid of hospital waste?

Answer 10

Hazardous waste: Incineration
General waste: controlled sanitary landfill (as you would do for domestic waste)

Question 11

What are the steps of hospital waste disposal?

Answer 11

1. Sorting: separating waste by type into color coded bags (MEMORIZE FROM LEC) at the place where it is generated. Sharp disposal containers: they should be puncture-resistant and leak proof on 3 sides
2. Handling: transporting waste within the facility (sharps should be discarded when they are 2/3 to 3/4 full)
3. Interim storage: storing waste within the facility until it can be transported for final disposal. (Bins should have lids)
4. Final disposal: elimination of solid and liquid medical waste, sharps and hazardous chemical waste from the health facility (pharmaceutical products should be given to pharmacy to deal with)

Question 12

What are persistent organic pollutants?

Answer 12

Chemical pollutants that may have a long half life, and can persist in the environment for years decades after their release

Question 13

What is the miasma theory?

Answer 13

The miasma theory proposed that dirty living environments, unclean drinking water, and poor ventilation due to overcrowding might cause various diseases

Question 14

What disease has been linked to drinking water containing arsenic?

Answer 14

Taiwan Blackfoot Disease, a unique peripheral arterial disease characterized by severe systemic arteriosclerosis, as well as dry gangrene and spontaneous amputations of affected extremities and end stages

Question 15

Environmental pollution with which organic metal affects children’s cognitive development and school achievement?

Answer 15

Lead

Question 16

What disease is associated with the long term exposure of fluoride?

Answer 16

fluorosis

Question 17

What condition has been associated with endemic iodine deficiency?

Answer 17

Endemic goiter.

Question 18

What are greenhouse gases?

Answer 18

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Question 19

What is the main greenhouse gas emitted through human practices and how?

Answer 19

CO2: main source is burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) to generate electricity,

Question 20

Name the 4 main greenhouse gases

Answer 20

• CO2
• Methane (CH4J
• nitrous oxide (NO2),
• Fluorinated gases

Question 21

Which greenhouse gas has no natural source in the environment and only come from human related activities?

Answer 21

Fluorinated gases

Question 22

What environmental phenomenon causes an increased risk of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps and hyperthermia?

Answer 22

Global warming.

Question 23

What was stated in the Paris COP agreement?

Answer 23

Every country agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees and aim for 1.5 degrees.

Question 24

What are individual behaviors we can do to mitigate global warming

Answer 24

1. Food: eat less beef/meat, more whole grain, more plants, lower on the food chain
2. LED Energy saving light bulbs
3. Carpool and walk, use bicycle
4. Recycle
5. Less heat and air conditioning
6. use less cars, turn off computer when not using

Question 25

Name the common air pollutants

Answer 25

Nitrous oxide
Free ozone
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Particulate matter 2.5/10

Question 26

What are the main source of nitrogen oxides?

Answer 26

Traffic emissions

Question 27

What is the difference between stratospheric and tropospheric ozone?

Answer 27

Stratospheric ozone: GOOD OZONE found in the upper atmosphere . Protects us from UV rays
Tropospheric ozone: BAD OZONE found in the lower atmosphere. It is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between:
Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) + Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.

Question 28

Main source of CO?

Answer 28

Traffic emissions

Question 29

What is CO pollution associated with?

Answer 29

adverse cardiovascular outcomes and increased cardiac mortality risk.

Question 30

What is the most common air pollutant that affects short term and long-term health?

Answer 30

Particulate matter

Question 31

Which is more dangerous, PM2.5 or PM10?

Answer 31

PM2.5 particles are more concerning because their small size allows them to travel deeper into the cardiopulmonary system.

Question 32

What are the levels of PM 2.5 and PM10 permissible by the WHO?

Answer 32

PM2.5 should not exceed 10 µg/m3 and 20 µg/m3 for PM10.

Question 33

What is radon gas?

Answer 33

a very heavy gas that produces harmful alpha particles as a by-product. Radon originates in the natural radioactive decay of uranium from soil and rocks. Radon gas presents in ground crevices, dissolved water, or dispersed open air. It seeps into homes via basement cracks and into well water and point sources.

Question 34

Why is radon gas harmful?

Answer 34

Increases your risk for lung cancer

Question 35

Explain the term “sick building syndrome”

Answer 35

used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and discomfort that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.

Question 36

What is the difference between building related illness (BRI) and sick building syndrome (SBS)?

Answer 36

building related illness is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

Question 37

First line of management to improve indoor air quality?

Answer 37

Proper ventilation

Question 38

Name a few immediate and long term effects of bad indoor air quality.

Answer 38

Immediate: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Or even aggravation of a preexisting condition e.g., flare or aggravation of asthma attack.
Treatment is simply eliminating the person’s exposure to the source of the pollution if it can be identified.

Long term: respiratory diseases, increase risk of cardiac disease and cancer

Question 39

Which group of people are more likely to get immediate effects with bad indoor air quality?

Answer 39

• Age: extreme ages are more susceptible
• Presence of preexisting medical condition.
o Preexisting of a respiratory condition e.g., Asthma, COPD, hinder participants at a higher risk.
o Anemia
o Preexisting of a cardiac condition increase risk of CO toxicity.
• Pregnancy Individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can become sensitized to biological or chemical pollutants after repeated or high-level exposures.
• Ventilation system: poor ventilation is associated with poor indoor air quality. The ventilation system can be a source of biological pollutants.

Question 40

What is the leading cause of death in otherwise healthy infants?

Answer 40

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS the sudden, unexplained, unexpected death of an infant in the first year of life.

Question 41

What makes a baby more likely to die due to SIDS?

Answer 41

A mother who smoked during pregnancy, or a baby exposed to second hand smoke.

Question 42

What is the primary source of indoor air pollution?

Answer 42

Radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas)

Question 43

What is the leading cause of lung cancer in non smokers and why?

Answer 43

Radon gas. It enters the lungs and decays, producing alpha and beta radiation that damages DNA and causes lung cancer

Question 44

What is a colourless, odorless gas found indoors that could cause sudden death?

Answer 44

Carbon monoxide.

Question 45

Which gas in cigarette smoke is believed to be responsible for the mean reduction of birth weight seen in infants born to smoking mothers?

Answer 45

Carbon monoxide

Question 46

Symptoms of sick building syndrome?

Answer 46

1. Non-specific symptoms (but are often related to respiratory tract)
2. Tight temporal association with building occupancy
3. Rapid resolution, within minutes to hours, when affected office workers leave implicated buildings.
4. There is no apparent cause can be found.