Water Pollution Quiz

Which of the following is a persistent inorganic pollutant that can impair neurological functioning?

• Lead

• DDT

• PCB's

• Atrazine

• Arsenic

What is the main source of mercury in the Great Lakes?

• Leaky landfills

• Coal-burning power plants

• Sewage effluent

• Automobile emissions

• bio hazardous waste from hospital

Which pollutant or pollutants are most likely to create eutrophic areas?

• nitrates and phosphates

• heavy metals

• synthetic organic compounds

• pharmaceuticals

• Acid deposition

What is the first step in the water treatment process?

• coagulation

• filtration

• flocs

• concentation

an underground tank containing bacteria that treat waste water is a

• septic tank
• leach field
• water treatment plant

What does chlorination do to the water?

• Removes microorganisms

• Cleans the water

• Makes the water taste nice

• Removes twigs and sediment

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is defined as:

• the amount of oxygen required by humans who use a water supply
• the amount of oxygen required for biochemical decomposition processes
• the amount of oxygen needed by plants growing in a water source
• the amount of oxygen given off by a specific water source

Which of the following is not usually associated with eutrophication?

• algal blooms

• reduced photosynthesis in the water column

• increased heavy metal concentrations

• reduced dissolved oxygen

By weight, the most abundant water pollutant is:

• toxic chemicals

• organic waste

• heavy metals

• sediments

The “dead zone” in the northern Gulf of Mexico consists of a large ocean area depleted in ___. This problem appears to be caused by ___.

• oxygen; nitrogen from agricultural runoff

• marine microorganisms; ozone depletion

• carbon; industrial pollutants

• oxygen; global warming