WorksheetsAir Pollution Quiz
Total questions: 59
Worksheet time: 30mins
How many million metric tons of air pollution is released into the atmosphere each year by human activity in the US alone?
147 million metric tons
2 billion metric tons
30 million metric tons
11 million metric tons
What is the worldwide average of air pollution released each year?
147 million metric tons
2 billion metric tons
30 million metric tons
11 million metric tons
Over the past 30 years, in which regions has air quality improved?
Europe, North America, and Japan
China, India, and Russia
South America and Africa
Australia and Antarctica
How many of the most smoggiest cities used to be in China?
7
11
2
30
What was the cause of the "pea soup" fog in London during the 1850's?
Industrial accidents
Volcanic eruptions
Coal smoke and fog
Chemical spills
How many people were killed by the prolonged fog in London in 1880?
300
2,200
4,000
12,000
What event prompted the British Clean Air Act of 1956?
The yellow fog in London in 1952
The Donora disaster in 1948
The air pollutants in New York City in 1963
The volcanic eruptions in the 1850s
What was the first documented disaster in the US related to air pollution?
The yellow fog in London in 1952
The Donora disaster in 1948
The air pollutants in New York City in 1963
The volcanic eruptions in the 1850s
What was the estimated death toll due to the yellow fog in London in 1952?
300 people
2,200 people
4,000-12,000 people
Almost half of the town
In 1963, what was the impact of air pollutants in New York City?
They caused a prolonged fog
They killed about 300 people and injured thousands
They prompted the British Clean Air Act
They made almost half of the town sick
What is air pollution?
The presence of water vapor in the atmosphere
The presence of chemicals in the troposphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms, ecosystems, or materials
The process of cleaning the atmosphere
The reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What are primary pollutants?
Substances that reduce air pollution
Harmful substances created by chemical reactions of secondary pollutants
Harmful substances emitted directly into the atmosphere
Chemicals used to improve air quality
What are secondary pollutants?
Substances that are not harmful to the atmosphere
Harmful substances emitted directly into the atmosphere
Harmful substances created by chemical reactions of primary pollutants in the atmosphere
Chemicals that are beneficial for the climate
How can air pollution alter the climate?
By reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth
By increasing the oxygen levels in the atmosphere
By introducing beneficial chemicals into the atmosphere
By having chemicals that are high enough in the atmosphere to alter climate
What are fugitive emissions in the context of air pollution?
Emissions that are captured and treated before being released into the air
Emissions that go through a smokestack and are then released into the air
Byproducts of industry such as dust from strip mining or leaks from valves and pipes that don't go through a smokestack
Emissions that are solely from natural sources like volcanoes and forests
Can air pollution originate from both natural and human-caused sources?
No, it only comes from natural sources
No, it only comes from human-caused sources
Yes, but it predominantly comes from human-caused sources
Yes, it can come from both natural and human-caused sources
What do trees and bushes emit that is responsible for the blue haze in the Blue Ridge mountains?
Carbon dioxide
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Nitrogen oxides
Which natural source of pollution is responsible for 2/3 of the methane in the air?
Volcanoes
Sea spray and decaying vegetation
Particulate matter
Bacterial decomposers in swamps and termite and ruminant activity
What is a major source of reactive sulfur compounds?
Volcanoes
Sea spray and decaying vegetation
Trees and bushes
Bacterial decomposers
What does particulate matter include?
Ash and acid mists
Hydrogen sulfide and other toxic gases
Pollen spores, viruses, bacteria, dust
Terpenes
How many major air pollutants are mentioned in the text?
5
6
7
8
Which of the following is NOT listed as a major air pollutant in the text?
Carbon Oxides
Nitrogen Oxides
Chlorofluorocarbons
Heavy Metals
According to the text, what is the impact of the major air pollutants?
They are a minor threat to human health.
They only affect the welfare of animals.
They are the most serious threat to human health and welfare.
They have no significant impact on health or welfare.
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO) primarily formed by?
Complete combustion of carbon containing materials
Incomplete combustion of carbon containing materials
Natural carbon cycle
Photochemical reactions
Which of the following is NOT a major source of Carbon Monoxide?
Vehicle exhaust
Burning of forests/grasslands
Inefficient stoves
Natural carbon cycle
What percentage of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the result of the natural carbon cycle?
7%
90%
93%
100%
Which gas is not currently regulated by the US Clean Air Act?
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Dioxide
Ozone
Methane
What is a hazard of Carbon Monoxide?
It is a major component of the natural carbon cycle
It is regulated by the US Clean Air Act
It reacts with hemoglobin and can cause lung diseases and death
It is consumed in photochemical reactions to produce oxygen
What happens when NO oxidizes?
It turns into a solid.
It combines with water to create Nitric Acid.
It becomes reddish brown NO2 and contributes to the color of smog.
It is a major component of acid rain.
What is created when NO2 combines with water?
Nitrous Oxide
Nitric Acid (HNO3)
Carbonic Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
What is a major component of acid rain?
Nitrous Oxide
Carbon Dioxide
Nitric Acid (HNO3)
Sulfuric Acid
What percentage of nitrogen oxides emissions are caused by human activities such as fuel combustion by cars and electric power generation?
About 30%
About 60%
About 80%
About 90%
What happens when SO2 is oxidized in the air?
It forms H2O
It combines with water to form H2SO4
It creates CO2
It dissipates without any reaction
What is a major source of the sulfur found in the atmosphere?
Volcanic eruptions only
Biogenic emissions only
Combustion of coal and oil
Water vapor
What percentage of the sulfur in the atmosphere is due to human activity?
1/3
2/3
1/4
3/4
What is one of the harmful effects of sulfur compounds mentioned in the text?
They increase visibility
They cause skin irritation
They damage lung tissue and lower visibility
They are beneficial to the environment
What is an aerosol in the context of particulate matter?
A type of gas that is harmful to the environment
A system of solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in a gas medium
A measurement tool for air pollution
A chemical substance used in refrigeration
Which of the following is not mentioned as a component of particulate matter?
Dust
Smoke
Nitrogen
Pollen
Particles less than what size are considered more harmful according to the text?
Less than 10 micrometers (PM10)
Less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5)
Less than 5 micrometers
Less than 1 micrometer
What factors have intensified the problem of dust according to the text?
Industrialization and urbanization
Poor farming practices and global climate change
Deforestation and mining
Overpopulation and fossil fuel combustion
What do diesel fumes contain that makes them highly toxic?
Only fine particulates
Only chemicals
Both fine particulates and chemicals
Neither particulates nor chemicals
Compared to Europe, what is the status of the US regarding regulations on particulate matter?
The US has stricter regulations than Europe.
The US and Europe have similar regulations.
The US is ahead in implementing regulations.
The US is behind Europe in implementing regulations.
How can heavy metals be released into the air?
By burning organic waste
Through metal fumes or suspended particulates by fuel combustion and other industrial processes
By natural erosion of soil
Through evaporation of sea water
What was the effect of banning leaded gasoline in America?
Increase in the average IQ by 3 points
Decrease in the average IQ by 3 points
No change in the average IQ
Decrease in kids' lead blood levels by 30%
What can mercury in the food chain affect?
Muscle development
Brain development and function
Digestive efficiency
Skin health
What happened in Minamata, Japan in the 1950s?
A chemical factory improved waste management in the ocean
A chemical factory dumped waste in the ocean leading to concentrated contamination in the food chain
A chemical factory caused air pollution affecting the local population
A chemical factory was built without affecting the environment
What percentage of mercury sources come from smokestacks?
15%
50%
85%
100%
What are the characteristics of halogens according to the text?
Non-reactive and non-toxic
Highly reactive and toxic
Non-reactive and beneficial
Highly beneficial and non-toxic
What is the current status of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) usage according to the text?
Widely used in all industries
Banned for all uses without exceptions
Banned for most uses but still used in some applications
Never been banned and still in full use
Where do chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) diffuse into, and what do they release that destroys the ozone layer?
Troposphere, releasing oxygen
Stratosphere, releasing chlorine and fluorine
Mesosphere, releasing nitrogen and hydrogen
Thermosphere, releasing carbon dioxide and methane
What are the largest sources of natural VOCs?
Animals and bacteria
Plants (isoprene and terpenes)
Synthetic processes
Oceanic sources
What are VOCs oxidized to in the air?
Ozone and water vapor
Nitrogen and oxygen
CO and CO2
Methane and ethane
Which of the following is not a synthetic VOC?
Benzene
Methane
Toluene
None of the above
What role do synthetic VOCs play in the environment?
They decrease air pollution.
They have no significant impact.
They play an important role in the formation of photochemical oxidants.
They are primarily used in the production of oxygen.
What is the role of ozone in the stratosphere?
It damages vegetation and building materials.
It is bad for air quality.
It helps to block some of the UV radiation from the sun.
It leads to the accumulation of hydrocarbons.
Why is O3 in the troposphere considered bad?
It blocks UV radiation effectively.
It improves air quality.
It is a strong oxidizing agent that can damage vegetation and sensitive tissues.
It is formed by the accumulation of hydrocarbons.
How is O3 formed in the troposphere?
Through the accumulation of hydrocarbons.
Due to photochemical oxidants driven by solar energy.
By blocking UV radiation from the sun.
By improving air quality.
What can lead to O3 accumulation in the air?
Blocking of UV radiation.
Damage to vegetation and building materials.
Photochemical reactions driven by solar energy.
Hydrocarbons in the air.
smoke released from factories does not cause air pollution
False
True
