Environmental pollution

Question 1

What is environmental pollution?

Answer 1

The introduction of harmful substances, energies, or contaminants into the environment causing adverse changes.

Question 2

Which parts of the environment can pollution affect?

Answer 2

Air, water, soil, and living organisms

Question 3

What is air pollution?

Answer 3

Release of harmful substances (e.g., CO, SO₂, NOx, particulate matter, VOCs) into the atmosphere

Question 4

What is water pollution?

Answer 4

Contamination of water bodies by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, sewage, and plastics

Question 5

What is soil pollution?

Answer 5

Accumulation of heavy metals, pesticides, and waste leading to loss of soil fertility

Question 6

What is noise pollution?

Answer 6

Excessive sound from vehicles, industry, and urbanisation

Question 7

What is radiation pollution?

Answer 7

Release of radioactive substances from nuclear plants, accidents, or improper waste disposal

Question 8

What are major causes of pollution?

Answer 8

Industrialisation, agriculture, urbanisation, and deforestation

Question 9

What are primary air pollutants?

Answer 9

Pollutants released directly into the air (e.g., SO₂ from factories)

Question 10

What are secondary air pollutants?

Answer 10

Pollutants formed by reactions between primary pollutants (e.g., smog)

Question 11

What are the two main sources of air pollution?

Answer 11

Natural sources and anthropogenic sources

Question 12

How do terrestrial ecosystems contribute to air pollution?

Answer 12

Decomposition releases CO₂, CH₄, NO, and N₂O

Question 13

How do aquatic ecosystems contribute to air pollution?

Answer 13

Wetlands and oceans release methane and dimethyl sulphide (DMS)

Question 14

How do forest fires contribute to air pollution?

Answer 14

Produce CO₂, CO, NMVOCs, particulates, and sulphur species

Question 15

How do volcanoes contribute to air pollution?

Answer 15

Emit gases and ash into the atmosphere

Question 16

How does industrial energy production cause pollution?

Answer 16

Combustion releases CO₂, CO, hydrocarbons, NOx, SOx, and particulates

Question 17

How does transport contribute to air pollution?

Answer 17

Fuel combustion releases pollutants from land, sea, and air vehicles

Question 18

How does agriculture contribute to air pollution?

Answer 18

Animal waste releases NH₃ and NO; crop burning adds particulates

Question 19

How does biomass burning contribute to pollution?

Answer 19

Responsible for 25% of global CO, 18% of NOx, and 6% of NMVOC and CH₄ emissions

Question 20

Which body system is most affected by air pollution?

Answer 20

The respiratory system

Question 21

What diseases are linked to air pollution exposure?

Answer 21

Bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, silicosis, asbestosis, headaches, fatigue, cardiovascular damage, nervous system damage

Question 22

What is the impact of sulphur dioxide (SO₂)?

Answer 22

Causes lung damage, acts as an allergen, and forms acid rain

Question 23

What is the impact of carbon monoxide (CO)?

Answer 23

Forms carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), reducing oxygen transport

Question 24

Why is CO dangerous even at low levels?

Answer 24

It has 200× greater affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen

Question 25

What are the effects of mercury exposure?

Answer 25

Brain, nerve, and kidney damage

Question 26

What are the effects of nitric oxide (NO)?

Answer 26

Respiratory irritation and pulmonary haemorrhage

Question 27

What are the effects of nickel exposure?

Answer 27

Respiratory, cardiovascular, kidney disease, and cancer

Question 28

What are the effects of lead exposure?

Answer 28

Brain damage, mental disability, coma, muscle spasms, death

Question 29

What are the effects of cadmium particulates?

Answer 29

Kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, liver damage

Question 30

What are the effects of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S)?

Answer 30

Headache, eye irritation, unconsciousness, death

Question 31

What are the effects of radioactive particles?

Answer 31

Cancer, mutations, radiation sickness

Question 32

What caused the Great London Smog?

Answer 32

Cold weather, increased coal burning, and an anticyclone causing temperature inversion

Question 33

What is a temperature inversion?

Answer 33

Warm air traps cooler air near the ground, preventing pollutant dispersion.

Question 34

How many pollutants were emitted daily during the smog?

Answer 34

1,000 tonnes smoke, 2,000 tonnes CO₂, 140 tonnes HCl, 14 tonnes fluorine compounds, 370 tonnes SO₂ → 800 tonnes H₂SO₄

Question 35

What were the impacts of the smog?

Answer 35

~4,000 deaths, breathing problems, livestock deaths, travel disruption

Question 36

What is water pollution?

Answer 36

Undesirable changes in water’s physical, chemical, or biological properties due to contaminants

Question 37

How does water pollution affect humans?

Answer 37

Contaminated drinking water and polluted food chains

Question 38

What is disruption of the food chain?

Answer 38

Harm to one organism affects entire aquatic food webs

Question 39

What is eutrophication?

Answer 39

Excess nutrients cause algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and death of aquatic life

Question 40

What is senescence?

Answer 40

Natural, long‑term eutrophication without human influence

Question 41

What is biomagnification?

Answer 41

Progressive increase in toxic chemical concentration up the food chain

Question 42

Example of biomagnification?

Answer 42

DDT accumulating from plankton → small fish → large fish → birds.

Question 43

What ecosystem services does soil provide?

Answer 43

Water filtration, nutrient storage, plant growth support, biodiversity habitat

Question 44

Why is soil called an “all‑inclusive sink”?

Answer 44

It absorbs both natural and human contaminants

Question 45

What human activities cause soil pollution?

Answer 45

Fertiliser/pesticide overuse, deforestation, industrialisation, poor waste disposal

Question 46

How does soil pollution affect plants?

Answer 46

Reduced growth and yield due to toxic chemicals

Question 47

How does soil pollution affect animals?

Answer 47

Stunted growth, disease, or death from contaminated food sources

Question 48

How does soil pollution affect humans?

Answer 48

Contaminated food and water sources leading to health risks