Environmental Studies · Biology

Environmental Health and Toxicology

1,717 Questions

Access targeted questions on environmental health, pollution impacts, and toxicology fundamentals. The topics cover the health effects of air pollution, radiation, and chemical exposure. This material is highly relevant for environmental science tests and general awareness sections of competitive exams.

Air pollution health effectsPesticide exposure risksOzone depletion impactsEnvironmental epidemiologySkin inflammation conditions

Environmental Health and Toxicology Questions

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change causes of resource depletion causes of greenhouse effect ozone layer depletion

Melanornia (skin cancer) is associated with

  1. ozone accumulation

  2. ozone depletion

  3. acid rain

  4. allergens
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone depletion allows more harmful UV radiation to reach Earth's surface, which damages skin cells and increases the risk of melanoma (skin cancer). Ozone accumulation would have the opposite effect, while acid rain and allergens are not directly linked to skin cancer.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change causes of resource depletion causes of greenhouse effect ozone layer depletion

In the environment, ozone is known for its 

  1. Harmful effects

  2. Useful effects

  3. Both A and B

  4. Inert nature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone is an inorganic molecule. It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. In the environment ozone is known for its both harmful and useful effects.
Ozone present in stratosphere is useful as it act like shield and protect the earth from harmful UV-rays which can cause serious problems like skin cancer and decrease in level of photosynthesis. Ozone present in troposphere act as pollutant and have many deleterious effects. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change causes of resource depletion causes of greenhouse effect ozone layer depletion

Ozone depletion shall cause higher incidence of

  1. Skin cancers

  2. Cataract

  3. Decreased immunity

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Ozone depletion causes the harmful UV-B radiations to strike the earth surface. These radiations are capable of causing various health issues like malignant skin cancers, cataract, decreased immunity, decreased primary productivity, chlorophyll bleaching etc. 

Hence, the correct answer is 'All of the above'

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change causes of resource depletion causes of greenhouse effect ozone layer depletion

In coming years, skin related disorders will become more common due to ________.

  1. Excessive use of detergents

  2. Water pollution

  3. Air pollution

  4. Depletion of ozone layer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The ever increase in the use of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs, HFCs, methyl bromide etc. will continue destroying the ozone layer in the stratosphere. The depletion of the ozone layer will result in the penetration of more UV-A and UV-B radiations to the earth surface. These radiations are strong mutagens as they distort the structure of the skin cell DNA when the skin is exposed to the UV rays. It results in skin related disorders like pigmentation, skin cancer etc. 

Hence, the correct answer is 'Depeletion of the ozone layer'.

Multiple choice commercial applications global environmental change causes of resource depletion causes of greenhouse effect ozone layer depletion

Exposure of UV radiations causes

  1. Damage to eye sight

  2. Sunburn

  3. Skin cancer

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The exposure to the UV radiations have an ionizing and distorting effect to the body of the humans. It causes damage to the eyes by destroying the essentials of the eye-lens. The sunburn occurs due to high intensity. Skin cancer is caused due to distortion of the DNA by the formation of the pyrimidine dimers, such that the DNA cannot be replicated properly.

Hence, the correct answer is 'All of the above'.

Multiple choice

Death due to radiation was a side effect of...

  1. The D-Day landing

  2. The Bombing of Britain

  3. The Bombing of Hiroshima

  4. The attack on Pearl Harbor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945 utilized nuclear fission, which released lethal doses of ionizing radiation, causing immediate and long-term deaths from radiation sickness and cancer. The other options involved conventional warfare without nuclear weapons.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a disease affected by environmental pollution?

  1. Birth defects

  2. Asthma

  3. Cancer

  4. Depression
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

While environmental factors can influence mental health, depression is primarily classified as a psychiatric disorder with complex genetic, biological, and psychosocial causes, whereas asthma, cancer, and birth defects have well-established direct links to chemical and physical pollutants in the environment.

Multiple choice

What can happen when too much oil is added in an engine?

  1. Overfilling can cause oil foaming, reducing lubrication.

  2. Cools engine faster.

  3. Too much oil, increases horse power by 50%.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Overfilling the engine oil allows the rotating crankshaft to contact the oil in the oil pan, whipping it into a foam. This aerated oil contains bubbles that cannot be pumped effectively, leading to a loss of oil pressure and reduced lubrication to critical engine components.

Multiple choice

Some of these are useful but many of these are harmful and could kill us. 

  1. Hormones

  2. Enzymes

  3. Bacteria

  4. E. Coli
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bacteria are single-celled organisms; while many are beneficial for digestion and food production, pathogenic bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections. Hormones and enzymes are essential biological molecules produced by our bodies, not external organisms that threaten us.

Multiple choice

What does diphtheria toxin do to the human body?

  1. Causes them to stop functioning

  2. Attaches to the cell’s receptors

  3. Causes problems with breathing, heart rate, or kidney function

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Diphtheria toxin is an exotoxin that binds to cell receptors, enters the cell, and inhibits protein synthesis, causing cells to stop functioning. This leads to systemic complications affecting breathing, heart rate, and kidney function.

Multiple choice

What is most likely a negative effect of domesticated animals on humans?

  1. animals near humans caused new diseases

  2. animals made wool and furs more available

  3. domesticated animals required more time

  4. domesticated animals meant settlements

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Living in close proximity to domesticated animals allowed pathogens to jump from animals to humans, leading to many infectious diseases. While domestication required more time and led to permanent settlements, these are not primarily negative biological threats like zoonotic diseases.

Multiple choice

These are unstable molecules that cause damage.

  1. Pollution

  2. Calories

  3. Antioxidants

  4. Free Radicals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Free radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules with unpaired electrons that can damage cells, proteins, and DNA through oxidative stress.

Multiple choice

Pollen grains

  1. Cause severe allergies and bronchial afflictions in some people

  2. Often leading to chronic respiratory disorders like

  3. Aof Parthenium or careot grass came with imported wheat causes allergy

  4. All
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pollen grains from many species, including the invasive Parthenium (carrot grass), are known to cause severe allergies and respiratory issues.

Multiple choice

Name one disadvantage of using coal.

  1. Toxic smog produced causes health problems for people

  2. Coal is widely available

  3. Coal mining and extraction creates many jobs

  4. Coal is a cheap energy resource compared to renewables
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Burning coal releases particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, which form toxic smog and contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular health issues in humans.

Multiple choice

These materials can kill or injure nature.

  1. Dangerous to the Environment

  2. Corrosive to the Skin

  3. Radioactive Elements

  4. Evidence of Chemical Change
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Materials that can kill or injure nature are broadly categorized as dangerous to the environment. While some are radioactive or corrosive, the definition provided is a general description of environmental hazards.