ES Final Review Topic 2

Which of the following correctly describes biodegradable plastics?

• a. Some plastics are designed to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight.

• b. Plastic that contains sugars can be broken down by soil bacteria.

• c. Degradable plastics usually break down into smaller pieces of plastic.

• d. All of the above

Which of the following is not considered hazardous waste?

• a. dead batteries such as those used in flashlights and radios

• b. rotting meat and other food waste

• c. metals such as lead and mercury

• d. Both (a) and (c)

A material is biodegradable if

• a. it is made of synthetic material.

• b. it is made from petroleum or natural gas.

• c. it can be broken down by biological processes.

• d. if can be disposed of in a landfill.

Under the Superfund Act,

• a. the EPA may sue companies that dump hazardous waste illegally.

• b. most of the dangerous toxic dump sites in the United States have been cleaned up.

• c. companies that cannot afford to clean up their hazardous wastes can have the government pay for the cleanup

• d. All of the above

Which items make up the largest percentage of waste produced by households and businesses?

• a. aluminum cans

• b. plastic bottles and packaging

• c. paper products

• d. yard waste, such as grass clippings and tree limbs

Toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of

• a. substances on organisms.

• b. viruses on organisms.

• c. pollutants on the environment.

• d. antibiotics on viruses.

An estimate of the probability of a negative effect caused by a substance is a(n)

• a. educated guess.

• b. response assessment.

• c. risk assessment.

• d. dose-response curve.

Naturally occurring pollutants can become hazardous to health when they are

• a. introduced into food.

• b. introduced into water.

• c. above normal levels.

• d. used by industry.

Much of the pollution in the environment is a result of

• a. the use of too much water.

• b. the use of landfills.

• c. inadequate waste disposal.

• d. newer pollution-control devices used at factories.

After an outbreak of an illness, scientists use epidemiology to try to find

• a. the origin of the disease.

• b. how the disease spreads.

• c. how to prevent the disease from spreading.

• d. All of the above