Final Exam Review

Question 1

True or False: Aquifers are crystal clear pools of water that are mostly located near the earth’s surface that are generally contaminated with arsenic

Answer 1

False

Question 2

When we draw water from an aquifer and there isn’t enough rainfall to replenish what we take out, this is known as what?

Answer 2

non-renewable water

Question 3

This is how we describe the movement of water from the oceans to the air to the land and then returning to the ocean

Answer 3

hydrologic cycle

Question 4

True or False: Most fecal coliform bacteria are harmless.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

This compound is sometimes added by municipal water supplies to finished water to keep us healthy.

Answer 5

Fluoride

Question 6

True or False: human exposure to pollutants in indoor environments, where we often spend 80-90% of our time, are much less important in terms of human health than outdoor pollutants.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

This is the name of the system of describing air pollution levels that follows a letter grade and color coding system. It’s an effort by environmental agencies to convey knowledge on air pollution risk to the general public more effectively.

Answer 7

Air Quality Index

Question 8

This is the name of the meteorological phenomena that traps air pollutants near the surface. It’s one of the contributing factors for events such as the London Fog disaster.

Answer 8

Inversion

Question 9

Roughly what percentage of Americans live in areas where air quality exceeds federal standards?

Answer 9

50-60%

Question 10

True or False: Roughly 8 million people die each year from air pollution

Answer 10

True

Question 11

This is the name of the nasty hazardous liquid that needs to be continuously pumps from the bottom of a landfill.

Answer 11

Leachate

Question 12

True or False: There are significant geographic differences across the United States in how we ultimately dispose of garbage

Answer 12

True

Question 13

This is the formal name of the garbage that is produced by domestic producers, such as households, businesses, and governments.

Answer 13

municipal solid waste (MSW)

Question 14

True or False: Incinerating garbage is used most often in locations where there is vast open space, such as in the western United States

Answer 14

False

Question 15

In the US EPA solid waste heirarchy, this is the the preferred primary method in addressing solid waste.

Answer 15

source reduction

Question 16

For the most part, the health impacts associated with climate will likely be

Answer 16

health effects will be heterogenous and disparate

Question 17

True or False: For the most part, the span of specific vectors that might carry disease will likely not change with a changing climate.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

This is the name of the young activist who brought climate change back into the political discussion through abrupt and direct language.

Answer 18

Greta Thunberg

Question 19

To ensure the safety of all drinking water from the public water supply in the United States, standards are set by

Answer 19

The EPA

Question 20

The hydrological cycle is defined as

Answer 20

The natural cycle by which water evaporates from water bodies

Question 21

The average person in the United States uses up to 100 gallons of water per day. True or False?

Answer 21

True

Question 22

To ensure the safety of all bottled drinking water in the United States, standards are set by

Answer 22

The FDA

Question 23

The strategy used by Boston and New York cities to protect drinking water for their communities is

Answer 23

Watershed Protection

Question 24

Water scarcity is defined as

Answer 24

An annual supply of renewable freshwater less than 1,000 cubic meters per person

Question 25

What is the function of coagulation in water treatment?

Answer 25

Dirt and other particles suspended in water

Question 26

True or False? About 51% of the world lacks safe drinking water.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

All of the following statements are true regarding guinea worm disease EXCEPT:

Answer 27

The distribution of the guinea worm vaccine led to the decline of the disease

Question 28

Which of these statements is FALSE regarding hydraulic fracturing

Answer 28

All chemicals used in fracking fluid are disclosed to the public

Question 29

Which two countries are the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 29

China and the United States

Question 30

The creation of aerosol particles denotes

Answer 30

Dust, soot, and other finely divided solid and liquid particles

Question 31

The estimated global annual premature deaths from air pollution is

Answer 31

More than 3 million

Question 32

As of 2010, the standard for carbon monoxide levels during an 8-hour period according to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards is

Answer 32

9 ppm

Question 33

Identify the incorrect statement about the use of improperly vented indoor cooking stoves.

Answer 33

Expose women to high concentrations of pollen

Question 34

Global warming is mostly due to all of the following except:

Answer 34

Normal variations in the earth’s temperature

Question 35

One of the following is a major contributor to acid rain. Choose the appropriate answer.

Answer 35

SO2

Question 36

One way to reduce man-made carbon monoxide pollution is to

Answer 36

Reduce emissions from mobile sources of air pollution

Question 37

The average particle concentration in downtown Amherst is approximately 10 µg/m3. What do you think the particle concentration would be during rush hour right next to North Pleasant Street downtown?

Answer 37

About the same (approximately 10 µg/m3)

Question 38

All of the following are true about the Air Quality Index except:

Answer 38

Only used to describe ozone concentrations

Question 39

Which of the following regions does not have landfills as the most common choice for handling municipal solid waste?

Answer 39

Northeast

Question 40

Hazardous waste is the

Answer 40

By-products of human activities that can pose a hazard to human health when improperly managed

Question 41

Which of the following best describes a way septic systems can become hazardous?

Answer 41

They usually fail after a period of 20 to 30 years, polluting groundwater.

Question 42

Leachate is best described as

Answer 42

Water that collects contaminants as it trickles through wastes

Question 43

The advantages of recycling include

Answer 43

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Prevents water pollution

Preserves raw materials

Decreases burden on landfills

Question 44

The Love Canal site

Answer 44

Was a notorious toxic waste site in New York State

Led to the creation of the Superfund

Was repopulated in the 1990s

Generated concerns about the health of residents who lived in the area

Question 45

The term ‘recycling’ usually applies to all the following except

Answer 45

Throwing materials into a trash can

Question 46

Which of the following are hazards associated with sanitary landfill operations?

Answer 46

Spreading of disease by scavenging animals

Leaching of nutrients into adjacent waterways

Air pollution

Release of VOCs

Question 47

According to the EPA’s hazardous waste description, characteristic wastes are defined by having any of the following characteristics except:

Answer 47

Radioactivity

Question 48

All sewage treatment plants discharging into surface waters in the United States must have what kind of permit?

Answer 48

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)