Pollution and Environmental Impact Quiz

What is point source pollution?

• Pollution that originates from a large, diffuse area

• Pollutants discharged from a single identifiable location

• Pollution that comes from city streets and drainage channels

• A body of water with extremely low oxygen concentration

Which of the following is the most common nonpoint source pollution?

• Smokestack

• Discharge pipe

• Agricultural runoff

• Urban runoff

What does the term "eutrophication" refer to?

• The range of chemical and physical conditions for species survival

• The dispersion of oil particles from a spill

• Low oxygen levels in a body of water due to increased BOD from biological waste pollution

• A heavy metal released from the combustion of coal

What is the primary consequence of mercury entering aquatic systems?

• It increases the amount of dissolved oxygen

• It decreases the biological oxygen demand

• It can damage the nervous system and potentially kill organisms

• It leads to the creation of a dead zone

What are endocrine disruptors known to interfere with?

• The dispersion of oil particles in water

• The functioning of hormones in an animal's body

• The amount of heavy metals in the water

• The pH or temperature range necessary for species survival

Which chemical is noted for causing feminization of amphibians and fish?

• Litter

• Atrazine

• DDT

• Phthalates

What is a common use for phthalates that are considered endocrine disruptors?

• In agricultural runoff

• In cosmetics and food packaging

• In chemical dispersants for oil spills

• In the treatment of wastewater

What are PCBs and why are they significant in the context of environmental pollution?

• Compounds that increase nutrient input into bodies of water, leading to eutrophication

• Synthetic chemicals used in plastics that persist in the environment and accumulate in animal tissue

• Bacteria that cause excessive nutrient waste in water bodies

• Plants that are tolerant to submerged soil conditions

What is the primary consequence of cultural eutrophication in water bodies?

• Decreased biodiversity due to the introduction of exotic species

• An immediate increase in algae and other producers due to nutrient input

• The development of female traits in male animals

• A dramatic change in water temperature

What is the definition of an estuary?

• A land area that supplies water to a river system

• A habitat in which the fresh water of a river meets the salt water of the ocean

• A large subtropical swamp noted for its wildlife

• A swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts