Solid Waste
Which of the following strategies is the most preferred according to the EPA’s solid waste management hierarchy?
A. Incineration with energy recovery
B. Recycling
C. Landfilling
D. Source reduction
E. Composting
D. Source reduction
What is the primary environmental impact of an oil spill on marine ecosystems?
A) Increase in primary productivity
B) Bioaccumulation of toxins in the food web
C) Improved water clarity due to oil separation
D) Reduction in carbon dioxide absorption by phytoplankton
E) Enhanced coral reef formation
B) Bioaccumulation of toxins in the food web
Which of the following is the primary goal of primary treatment in a wastewater treatment plant?
A. Remove nutrients using bacteria
B. Add chlorine to kill pathogens
C. Physically remove large solids and suspended particles
D. Increase oxygen content in the water
C. Physically remove large solids and suspended particles
Which of the following is a direct ecological effect of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems?
A. Increase in dissolved oxygen levels
B. Growth of coral reefs
C. Algal blooms that lead to oxygen depletion
D. Decrease in nutrient availability
C. Algal blooms that lead to oxygen depletion
Which of the following is a likely ecological consequence of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems?
A. Increase in dissolved oxygen
B. Increased reproductive success in seabirds
C. Ingestion of microplastics by marine organisms
D. Enhanced coral reef health
C. Ingestion of microplastics by marine organisms
What is the major environmental concern associated with leachate from landfills?
A. It emits carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.
B. It can contaminate nearby groundwater supplies.
C. It contributes to the urban heat island effect.
D. It causes photochemical smog formation.
E. It reduces soil fertility around the landfill site.
B. It can contaminate nearby groundwater supplies.
Which of the following statements best describes why oil spills have more severe effects in cold marine environments compared to warm ones?
A) Oil evaporates more quickly in cold environments, increasing air pollution
B) Cold water promotes faster microbial degradation of oil
C) Oil is more likely to freeze and sink in cold waters
D) Decomposition of oil is slower due to reduced microbial activity
E) Sunlight breaks down oil more rapidly in colder regions
D) Decomposition of oil is slower due to reduced microbial activity
What role do microbes play in the eutrophication process?
A. Consume oxygen while decomposing algae
B. Increase nutrient levels in water
C. Reduce water temperature
D. Directly cause algal blooms
A. Consume oxygen while decomposing algae
Thermal pollution most directly causes which of the following ecological effects?
A. Increased water clarity
B. Decreased metabolic rate in aquatic organisms
C. Lowered dissolved oxygen levels
D. Decrease in algal growth
C. Lowered dissolved oxygen levels
Which heavy metal pollutant is commonly released from coal-burning power plants and can cause neurological damage in humans?
A. Zinc
B. Mercury
C. Iron
D. Calcium
B. Mercury
A city is considering switching from landfilling to incineration with energy recovery. Which of the following trade-offs is most accurate?
A. Incineration requires less land area and produces fewer air pollutants than landfills.
B. Incineration produces more methane but less CO₂ than landfills.
C. Incineration reduces the volume of waste but can produce hazardous emissions.
D. Landfills generate more electricity than waste-to-energy facilities.
E. Landfills are more expensive to operate than incinerators.
C. Incineration reduces the volume of waste but can produce hazardous emissions.
Which of the following is the best example of a long-term ecological consequence of a major oil spill?
A) Immediate death of surface-dwelling fish
B) Smothering of birds’ feathers
C) Temporary beach closures
D) Persistent contamination of sediment and benthic organisms
E) Reduction in oil prices due to decreased demand
D) Persistent contamination of sediment and benthic organisms
What is the main environmental concern with untreated sludge (biosolids) from wastewater plants?
A. High levels of oxygen
B. Release of methane gas
C. Concentration of heavy metals and pathogens
D. Excessive plant nutrients
C. Concentration of heavy metals and pathogens
What is the primary ecological impact of endocrine disruptors in aquatic environments?
A. Accelerated plant growth
B. Behavioral changes and reproductive abnormalities in fish and amphibians
C. Oxygen enrichment in deep waters
D. Increased photosynthesis
B. Behavioral changes and reproductive abnormalities in fish and amphibians
Which of the following is a point source of pollution?
A. Pesticide runoff from multiple farms
B. Oil leak from a ruptured pipeline
C. Fertilizer carried by rain into rivers
D. Plastic debris scattered across beaches
B. Oil leak from a ruptured pipeline
Which of the following policy approaches would most directly address e-waste problems in developing countries?
A. Subsidizing landfill expansion
B. Encouraging open-air burning of plastics
C. Implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws
D. Promoting the use of single-use batteries
E. Banning the export of all types of waste
C. Implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws
Which of the following is NOT commonly used to clean up oil spilled in marine environments?
A) Skimmer ships
B) Absorbent materials
C) Chemical dispersants
D) Booms
E) Sand filtration systems
E) Sand filtration systems
In septic systems, what is the main function of the leach/drain field?
A. Store solid waste
B. Mechanically filter the water
C. Allow wastewater to be naturally filtered and degraded by soil microorganisms
D. Mix chemicals into the wastewater
C. Allow wastewater to be naturally filtered and degraded by soil microorganisms
Bioaccumulation of mercury in aquatic food webs is most dangerous because:
A. Mercury evaporates into the atmosphere
B. It breaks down rapidly in the environment
C. Top predators receive the highest concentrations through biomagnification
D. It increases oxygen levels in the water
C. Top predators receive the highest concentrations through biomagnification
Which of the following is the best example of a nonpoint source pollutant?
A. Discharge from a sewage treatment plant
B. Oil leak from a ship
C. Runoff from urban streets after a rainstorm
D. Waste dumped from a factory pipe
C. Runoff from urban streets after a rainstorm
A landfill is reaching capacity. Engineers propose capturing the methane gas produced and using it as an energy source. What would be the most sustainable benefit of this approach?
A. It eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions.
B. It provides a renewable energy source while reducing atmospheric methane.
C. It completely stops leachate formation.
D. It increases the landfill's decomposition rate by 100%.
E. It makes recycling obsolete by recovering energy from all waste.
B. It provides a renewable energy source while reducing atmospheric methane.
Which of the following strategies is used to minimize oil spill impacts specifically in open-ocean environments?
A) Planting marsh grasses along coastlines
B) Use of bioremediation agents
C) Construction of artificial reefs
D) Installation of underground storage tanks
E) Mechanical soil aeration
B) Use of bioremediation agents
Which process is commonly used in tertiary treatment to remove phosphorus from wastewater?
A. Nitrification
B. Coagulation and sedimentation
C. UV radiation
D. Sand filtration
B. Coagulation and sedimentation
What is one key ecological consequence of acid deposition in freshwater ecosystems?
A. Enhanced biodiversity
B. Increased alkalinity
C. Loss of sensitive aquatic species such as amphibians and fish
D. Neutral pH levels maintained by dissolved CO₂
C. Loss of sensitive aquatic species such as amphibians and fish
Which regulation in the United States sets standards for water quality and pollution control?
A. Clean Air Act
B. Endangered Species Act
C. Clean Water Act
D. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
C. Clean Water Act