Pollution Control Questions and Answers – Human Impact on the Environment

This set of Pollution Control Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Human Impact on the Environment”.

1. Which industry produces fly ash most abundantly?
a) Steel production
b) Coal-fired power plants
c) Oil refineries
d) Dye production
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Fly ash is a combustion product of coal. Heat and electricity generation employs coal combustion, which produces fly ash. Unless separated, fly ash, along with flue gases, are expelled into the atmosphere.

2. Fly ash can be used by the construction industry.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: True. Fly ash is used in the construction industry to produce embankments, pavements, and roads. It can also be added to concrete, thereby increasing its strength and durability. Some countries, like India, use fly ash to make bricks.

3. Industrial waste is broadly classified into which of these two types of waste?
a) Process waste and chemical waste
b) Solid waste and liquid effluent
c) Industrial solid waste and liquid effluent
d) Chemical waste and biological waste
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Industrial waste is the waste produced during raw material processing. Chemical waste is the by-product produced during processing. The other options provided are all physical states. Biological waste is a subclass of waste itself.
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4. On what geographic scale are areas affected by cooling water discharges?
a) Global scale
b) Regional scale
c) Hemispheric scale
d) Local scale
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The geographic scale of cooling water discharges is local, meaning that if this type of pollution happens, the ecosystem in this local area alone will be affected, rather than far away locations or globally.

5. Dyes are released as part of which type of waste from the industry?
a) Liquid effluent
b) Hazardous solid waste
c) Air pollutants
d) Industrial solid waste
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Liquid effluents from specific industries contain dyes. Their presence in the wastewater is a huge environmental concern. That is because dyes can absorb and reflect sunlight in water and are carcinogenic and toxic to human health.

6. Chemical waste is released in the form of air pollutants, liquid pollutants, and solid waste.
a) False
b) True
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: All chemical industries release waste in all states. The composition of this waste differs based on the raw material used and by-products released into the atmosphere.

7. Which of the following is not a site-specific impact of coal mining on regional water bodies?
a) Increased turbidity
b) Toxic waste
c) Degradation of groundwater
d) Temperature elevation of subsurface water
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Coal mining causes water pollution on account of water runoff from the mining site. Turbidity of water bodies near coal-mining locations increases irrespective of geographical location. On the other hand, the other options listed have more local impacts.
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8. Which industry releases wastewater that does not affect the pH of water?
a) Pharmaceutical manufacture
b) Pesticide manufacture
c) Petroleum refineries
d) Fertilizer manufacture
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Wastewater from petroleum refinery industries do not change the pH inherently. The other types of industries release metallic waste that tends to change the pH of water to acidic or basic, depending on the metal itself.

9. BOD is not a characteristic of wastewater from which industry?
a) Pharmaceutical industry
b) Pesticides manufacture
c) Electroplating industry
d) Petroleum refineries
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The electroplating industry does not deal with organic material. Thus, there is no biological waste and hence no biological oxygen demand. On the other hand, there is some organic waste released from pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and petroleum refinery industries.
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10. Which of the following is a threat to the long-term health of coal miners?
a) Inhaling coal dust in the mine
b) Collapse of mine
c) Dangerous working conditions in the mine
d) Water runoff from the mine
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Miners are most vulnerable to coal dust because of their proximity. The inhalation of coal dust can cause respiratory problems in the long run, like black lung. Though the collapse of the mine and other dangerous factors also contribute to the health of miners, coal dust inhalation manifests in the long-term.

11. What is the main issue of open dumping as a waste disposal method?
a) It is a public health concern
b) Bad odour is released from dumping sites
c) The site of open dumping reduces aesthetic appeal
d) Water runoff from the site carries away waste
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Open dumping is a public health concern. The waste dumped in low-lying areas becomes a breeding ground for rodents and other insects, which can spread diseases to people living close to the areas of the open dump.

12. Which of the following is the most abundant water pollutant?
a) DDT
b) Industrial effluents
c) Domestic waste
d) Oil spills
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The most abundant water pollutants are industrial pollutants, which comprises of wastes coming from all industries. These consist of heavy metals, dyes, biological waste, and other inorganic substances.

13. Which of the following is NOT a type of air pollutant?
a) Chromium
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Nitrogen
d) Hydrocarbons
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Nitrogen is not an air pollutant. It is present in the air and atmosphere at all times and is considered inert when in the atmosphere. Chromium is a particulate matter pollutant. Industries needing the combustion of coal release carbon dioxide. Hydrocarbons are also industrial air pollutants.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Pollution Control.

To practice all areas of Pollution Control, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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