Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Pollution and Human Impact

2,864 Questions

Pollution involves the introduction of contaminants into natural environments, causing severe human impact. This hub focuses on water pollution, thermal pollution, soil contamination, and diseases like Minamata. It is a highly relevant topic for environmental studies in UPSC exams.

Water pollution sourcesOcean pollutantsHeavy metal contaminationSoil erosion impactsThermal pollution causes

Pollution and Human Impact Questions

Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment human intervention in ecosystems humans in the environment involvement of humans in the conservation of environment

High concentration of $SO _{2}$, $NO _{2}$, $CO _{2}$, SPM in atmosphere, causes threats to

  1. Human health

  2. Environment

  3. Plants

  4. Soil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

These pollutants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and suspended particulate matter) are major components of air pollution, which directly impacts human respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Pollution indicator is

  1. <p>Agrobacterium</p>

  2. Lichen

  3. <p>Pteridium</p>

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Lichens represent the symbiotic association between the algae and the fungi. These absorb their mineral nutrition from the moisture-laden air rather than the soil. So, the contamination of the air severely impairs their growth and they disappear from the areas that have a heavy concentration of sulphur pollutants in the air. Due to this sensitivity, these are considered to be the bioindicators of air pollution.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Lichen'

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

$SO _2$ pollution is indicated by destruction of.

  1. Climbers

  2. Lichens

  3. Mosses

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

Lichens are sensitive to the levels of SO$ _2$ in the atmosphere.

The sulphurous and sulphuric acid compounds affect the lichen growth.
The lichens are sensitive to low pH and hence die off the trees, boulders and cliffs indicating SO$ _2$ pollution.
So, the correct option is 'Lichens'.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Which is indicator of industrial pollution?

  1. <p> Biston belularia</p>

  2. Chamaeleon

  3. Lichen

  4. Bengal Tiger
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,C Correct answer
Explanation

An indicator species is the one that either shows sensitivity or sustenance in the pollution. The lichens are the indicator species of air pollution because they cannot survive in the air polluted with the oxides of sulphur, released by industrial emissions. This is so because lichens absorb mineral nutrients from the moisture in the air and any contaminant in the air makes it difficult for them to perform the vital activities of life. Biston betularia is a peppered moth. Their population was dominated by white coloured varieties before the industrialization in England because the predators fed on black moths easily visible on the white coloured bark of the trees. Due to the industrialization, the pollution through emission released soot that was deposited on the white bark of the trees, due to which the white population shifted to black population as the white moths were now eaten by the predators.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Lichen and Biston betularia'

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

MPN indicates

  1. Water pollution

  2. Atmospheric pollution

  3. Faecal pollution

  4. Industrial pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Most Probable Number (MPN) is a method used to estimate the concentration of viable microorganisms in a sample by means of replicate liquid broth growth in ten-fold dilutions. MPN is most commonly applied for quality testing of water i.e to ensure whether the water is safe or not in terms of bacteria present in it.
So the correct answer is 'Water pollution'.
Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Lichens are sensitive to

  1. Noise pollution

  2. Air pollution

  3. Water pollution

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

Lichens are the symbiotic associations between the algae and fungi. These absorb the mineral nutrients from the moisture-laden air instead of the soil. So, any contamination in the air is going to severely affect their growth. The oxides of sulphur have more adverse on the growth of lichens, These disappear from the area when sulphides are in excess in the air. So, these act as bioindicators to the air pollution caused by the sulphur oxides.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Air Pollution'.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Pollution indicator plants are/can ___________.

  1. Resistant to pollution

  2. Purify the atmosphere

  3. Very sensitive to pollutants

  4. Indicate onset of rains
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The plants that are used as the indicators to the pollutants are very sensitive to the pollutants such that they either develop disease symptoms or cease to grow when these specific pollutants are present in the air, water or soil. For example, Salvia and Pinus are sensitive to ozone and sulphur dioxide pollution and they show red spots and curling of the leaves. Petunia and Chrysanthemum are sensitive to the peroxy-acetyl nitrate and they show the destruction of the chlorophyll. Lichens fail to grow in the sulphur dioxide pollution.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Are very sensitive to pollutants'.

Multiple choice indicators of pollution biodiversity: conservation human influences on the environment option c: ecology and conservation biology

Which of the following are most suitable indicators of SO$ _2$ pollution in the environment?

  1. Lichens

  2. Conifers

  3. Algae

  4. Fungi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Lichens are the most suitable bio-indicators for air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide pollution since they derive their water and essential nutrients mainly from the atmosphere rather than from the soil.  If the air is clean, shrubby, hairy and leafy lichens become abundant. A few lichen species can tolerate quite high levels of pollution and are commonly found on pavements, walls and tree bark in urban areas. The most sensitive lichens are shrubby and leafy while the most tolerant lichens are all crusty in appearance.

So the correct answer is 'Lichens'.

Multiple choice geography land use urban land use and urban problems and solutions urban settlements land use patterns

Crops and plants grown on _________ absorb much of the pollution and then pass these on to us.

  1. polluted Soil

  2. polluted Water

  3. polluted Earth

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Crops and plants grown on polluted soil absorb much of the pollution and then pass these on to us. This could explain the sudden surge in small and terminal illnesses.

Long term exposure to such soil can affect the genetic make-up of the body, causing congenital illnesses and chronic health problems that cannot be cured easily. In fact, it can sicken the livestock to a considerable extent and cause food poisoning over a long period of time. The soil pollution can even lead to widespread famines if the plants are unable to grow in it.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution ways to prevent air pollution ways to reduce air pollution reducing air pollution

The pollutants released by jet aeroplanes inthe atomsphere as fluorocarbons are called:

  1. photochemical oxidants

  2. photochemical reductants

  3. aerosols

  4. physical pollutants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Aerosols are emitted into the air in the form of vapour or fine mist. Jet airplanes emit aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbons $(CCl _{2}F _2)$ and $(CCl _3F)$. The aerosols deplete ozone layer in the atmosphere.

Multiple choice evs seeds and seeds interdependencies among organisms hunting plant interdependence between plants and animals

Which of the following is the use of lichens in case of pollution?

  1. They treat the polluted water.

  2. They act as bioindicators of air pollution.

  3. They promote pollution.

  4. Lichens are not related with pollution.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Lichens are most sensitive to sulphur dioxide pollution and do not grow in areas with high levels of air pollution. Hence, Lichens are an important indicators of air pollution.

Multiple choice evs seeds and seeds interdependencies among organisms hunting plant interdependence between plants and animals

Lichens are described as indicator of 

  1. Air pollution

  2. Water pollution

  3. Soil pollution

  4. Agricultural productivity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Lichens are highly sensitive to sulfur dioxide in the air. Because they absorb nutrients directly from the atmosphere, their presence or absence serves as a reliable bio-indicator for air quality.

Multiple choice geography hazards major hazards in india and prevention tsunami and floods pollution and environment study of water pollution threats to water resource

Greenhouse effect is caused due to ___________.

  1. noise pollution

  2. air pollution

  3. water pollution

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The greenhouse effect is primarily caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is a direct consequence of air pollution. Other forms of pollution like noise or water do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Multiple choice geography hazards major hazards in india and prevention tsunami and floods pollution and environment study of water pollution threats to water resource

Global warming is the phenomenon arising due to air pollution causing damage to ______.

  1. Environment

  2. Earth

  3. Human health

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

Global warming is an environmental phenomenon where the Earth's average temperature rises due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases. While it affects the Earth and human health, the primary damage is to the global environment.

Multiple choice geography hazards major hazards in india and prevention tsunami and floods pollution and environment study of water pollution threats to water resource

In terms of pollution SPM represents ___________________.

  1. Suspended Pollution Matter

  2. Suspended Particulate Matter

  3. Solid Pollution Matter

  4. Solid Particulate Matter
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

SPM stands for Suspended Particulate Matter, which refers to tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the air.