Exam 2 Review

Question 1

In an attempt to evaluate the total cost of a disease, not simply how many people die, health agencies now calculate _______.

A) total morbidity
B) disability-adjusted life years
C) total mortality
D) environmental health

Answer 1

B) disability-adjusted life years

Question 2

The term, ________, is used to describe how smoking multiplies the effects of asbestos exposure.

A) disease cluster
B) detection limit
C) synergism
D) morbidity
E) toxic multiplier

Answer 2

C) synergism

Question 3

Chronic health effects result _______.

A) in an immediate health crisis
B) in long-lasting health problems
C) from single exposure to toxin
D) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 3

B) in long-lasting health problems

Question 4

The accumulation to toxic levels in aquatic food chains of toxins such as mercury is known as

A) biomagnification.
B) bioaccumulation.
C) biotoxicity.
D) bioteratogen. 
E) biosensitivity.

Answer 4

A) biomagnification

Question 5

More than 50% of antibiotic use in the United States is for

A) livestock.
B) pets.
C) humans.
D) HIV.

Answer 5

A) livestock

Question 6

With respect to exposure to toxins, which statement is correct?

A) Acute effects are the immediate results of a single exposure, chronic effects are those that are long lasting.
B) Acute effects are permanent, chronic effects may be short or long term but go away over time. C) Acute effects are much worse than chronic effects.
D) Acute effects are not as bad as chronic effects.
E) None of the above.

Answer 6

A) Acute effects are the immediate results of a single exposure, chronic effects are those that are long lasting.

Question 7

Sick building syndrome can be caused by

A) mold.
B) formaldehyde.
C) carbon monoxide.
D) nitrogen oxides.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 7

E) All of the choices are correct

A) mold.
B) formaldehyde.
C) carbon monoxide.
D) nitrogen oxides.

Question 8

All of the following attributes to an inaccurate or irrational perception of risks EXCEPT

A) News media give us a biased perspective on the frequency of health hazards.
B) Most people have difficulty understanding statistics and probabilities.
C) People emphasize or downplay certain risks depending on their agenda.
D) Individuals often have an exaggerated view of their own abilities.
E) Personal experiences are an infallible representation of reality.

Answer 8

E) Personal experiences are an infallible representation of reality

Question 9

The two main gases making up the lower atmosphere are

A. helium and hydrogen.
B. carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
C. oxygen and methane.
D. nitrogen and oxygen.
E. oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Answer 9

D. nitrogen and oxygen.

Question 10

The atmospheric zone where most weather events occur is the

A. stratosphere.
B. thermosphere.
C. troposphere.
D. mesosphere. 
E. stratopause.

Answer 10

C. troposphere

Question 11

Most of the excessive carbon dioxide that is expected to cause global warming is generated by

A. green plants.
B. burning of fossil fuels.
C. production of cement and clearing of forests.
D. All of these are correct. 
E. Answers B & C only.

Answer 11

E. Answers B & C only.

B. burning of fossil fuels.
C. production of cement and clearing of forests.

Question 12

___________ ozone is harmful, damaging plants and human health while ozone at the _________ level screens out mutagenic ultraviolet radiation.

A. Stratospheric; troposphere
B. Thermospheric; mesosphere
C. Tropospheric; stratosphere
D. Mesospheric; thermosphere E. Stratospheric; mesosphere

Answer 12

C. Tropospheric; stratosphere

Question 13

An increase in the albedo effect would mean there would be

A. an increase in reflectivity.
B. an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
C. an increase in the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the atmosphere.
D. an increase in heat absorption.

Answer 13

A. an increase in reflectivity.

Question 14

Which of the following would have the highest albedo?

A. Fresh snow
B. Open water
C. Forest
D. Soil

Answer 14

A. Fresh snow

Question 15

Which of the following air pollutants combines with other atmospheric components to form acid rain?

A) ozone
B) sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
C) Chlorofluorocarbons
D) methane and carbon dioxide 
E) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 15

B) sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

Question 16

Temperature inversions, heat islands, and dust domes are the result of _______.

A) El Niño
B) ozone depletion
C) urban pollution
D) acid rain

Answer 16

C) urban pollution

Question 17

The correct sequence of soil-water layers beginning from the soil surface is:

A) zone of aeration, water table, zone of saturation
B) water table, zone of aeration, zone of saturation
C) aquifer, recharge zone, water table
D) zone of saturation, water table, zone of aeration

Answer 17

A) zone of aeration, water table, zone of saturation

Question 18

The addition of sewage and other organic material into a water supply _______.

A) increases oxygen consumption by decomposers
B) increases biological oxygen demand
C) causes an oxygen sag downstream
D) All of the above.
E) 2 and 3 are correct.

Answer 18

D) All of the above

A) increases oxygen consumption by decomposers
B) increases biological oxygen demand
C) causes an oxygen sag downstream

Question 19

Currently the most widespread toxic metal contamination in North America is _______ released from incinerators and coal- burning power plants.

A) lead
B) arsenic
C) chlorine
D) mercury

Answer 19

D) mercury

Question 20

The hydrologic compartment that contains the greatest amount of fresh water is

A) groundwater.
B) the Great Lakes.
C) living organisms and biomass.
D) ice and snow.
E) clouds in the atmosphere.

Answer 20

D) ice and snow

Question 21

Coliform bacteria populations are routinely monitored in drinking water supplies, swimming pools, and at beaches because these bacteria

A) are especially toxic to animals.
B) may mutate into severely pathogenic strains.
C) indicate the presence of feces in water.
D) usually live in pesticide-contaminated water.
E) are more difficult to find in water.

Answer 21

C) indicate the presence of feces in water.

Question 22

A(n) ______________ is all the land drained by a particular river.

A) reservoir
B) water table
C) watershed
D) recharge zone 
E) aquifer

Answer 22

C) watershed

Question 23

Based on what you have learned so far, which country would you expect to have the most serious water quality problem?

A) The United States
B) China
C) Japan
D) Sweden

Answer 23

B) China

Question 24

The phenomenon where cool, dense air sits under a layer of lighter warmer air is known as a ____________________.

A) temperature inversion
B) heat island
C) heat sink
D) Milankovitch cycle E) thermocline

Answer 24

A) temperature inversion

Question 25

Stratospheric ozone helps to protect against

A) crop failures.
B) disruption of important biological communities. 
C) genetic mutations.
D) skin cancer in humans.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 25

E) All of the choices are correct.

A) crop failures.
B) disruption of important biological communities.
C) genetic mutations.
D) skin cancer in humans.

Question 26

The abuse/overuse of freshwater aquifers can result in

A) saltwater intrusion.
B) towns abandoned due to dry wells.
C) subsidence as ground collapses.
D) loss of available irrigation water. 
E) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 26

E) All of the choices are correct.

A) saltwater intrusion.
B) towns abandoned due to dry wells.
C) subsidence as ground collapses.
D) loss of available irrigation water.