Environmental Studies · General Awareness

Pollution and Human Impact

2,911 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 zoology introduction to microbiology microbial pollution control environmental use of microorganism microbes in waste treatment and biogas

Air pollution is caused by transport exhaust fumes and emission of gases like $SO 2$, $CO _, NO _2$ from industries. Similarly, water pollution is caused by ____________.

  1. Sewage

  2. Crop cultivation

  3. Rain

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

Water pollution is primarily caused by the discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage, which introduces organic waste and pathogens into water bodies.

Multiple choice social studies precautions for natural disasters floods, droughts and landslides and cyclones major hazards in india and prevention tsunami and floods

Which of the following is an environmental consequence of floods?

  1. Dispersal of weed species

  2. Erosion of soil

  3. Release of pollutants into waterways

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

Floods can have negative environmental consequences, such as soil erosion, release of pollutants and excess sediments into waterways and the ocean, dispersal of weed species, and negative impacts on fish and other aquatic life. Floods can also have positive environmental consequences, such as recharging groundwater systems, filling wetlands, moving useful nutrients around the landscape, and triggering breeding events (for example, of water birds).

Multiple choice evs - i for a pollution free nature ways to prevent air pollution ways to reduce air pollution reducing air pollution

Environmental pollution can be controlled by:

  1. spraying insecticides and pesticides

  2. the open burning of tree stumps

  3. treating factory wastes before disposing them

  4. disposing hot water from power stations into the sea
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Environmental pollution can be controlled by treating factory wastes before disposing of them. So, if we treat wastewater before disposing of in a river, it will surely decrease the amount of dumped pollutants. 

For example- Steel industries have a high concentration of cyanide in it, and it led to harmful effect. So, treatment is really necessary.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution strategies to control environmental pollution strategies to control pollution strategies to control environmental pollution and green chemistry

$pH$ of the rain is increased in heavy industrial area due to:

  1. acid rain

  2. land pollution

  3. water pollution

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

Acid rain is the emission of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. This includes burning of fossil fuels containing sulphur and nitrogenous matter (such as coal and oil in furnaces and power stations, petrol and diesel in automobiles). 
Due to increase in acid gases in rain, the pH will change due to acid rain.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution strategies to control environmental pollution strategies to control pollution strategies to control environmental pollution and green chemistry

Which of the following is a non-biodegradable pollutant?

  1. DDT

  2. Sewage

  3. Plant leaves

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

DDT, plastics, polythene, bags, insecticides, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic, metal articles like aluminum cans, synthetic fibres, glass objects, iron products and silver foils are non-biodegradable pollutants.

Multiple choice economics environment pollution strategies to control environmental pollution strategies to control pollution strategies to control environmental pollution and green chemistry

Minamata disease is because of pollution of:

  1. organic waste going into drinking water

  2. oil spill in water

  3. industrial waste containing mercury into fishing water

  4. arsenic going into the atmosphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, in 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory, which continued from 1932 to 1968. This highly toxic chemical bio accumulated in shellfish and fish in Minamata Bay and the Shiranui Sea, which, when eaten by the local populace, resulted in mercury poisoning.

Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

Rise in temperature due to heat from power plant and industries is known as

  1. Heat Pollution

  2. Thermal Pollution

  3. Waste pollution

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

Thermal pollution is defined as the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature, typically through the use of water as a coolant by power plants.

Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

Which of the following is main factor in water pollution? 

  1. Pesticides

  2. Industrial waste

  3. Detergent
  4. NH$ _3$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Water is an important resource for the people and the environment. It is the basis of life. Pollution of water affects drinking water, river and oceans all over the world. Water pollutants affect all living species and the complete functioning of the ecosystem that lives in the water. The major water pollutants are sewage, metals, lead, cadmium, arsenic, agrochemicals like DDT, microorganisms, plastics, detergents, oil and gasoline, inorganic chemicals, radioactive waste, sediments, plant nutrients, animal manure and plant residues, thermal pollution etc. Detergent is the waste from household, industries and firms that trigger organic pollution.
So, the correct answer is option C.
Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

Which one of the following is a biodegradable pollutants?

  1. Cowdung

  2. DDT

  3. Lead Vapour

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

The biodegradable substances can be degraded with the decomposition activity of the microbes. The cow dung is the pollutant which is the waste produced by the animals like cattle. The cow dung mainly contains the cellulosic fibres. This is a biodegradable form of pollutant which can be decomposed by the enzyme cellulase produced by the microbes. DDT is a pesticide, the lead vapour is produced due to combustion of leaded fuels and plastic is a synthetic polymer. These materials cannot be degraded.

Thus, the correct answer is option A. 

Multiple choice zoology pollution - a rising environmental problem sources of water pollution marine life water pollution

Detergents are water pollutants because they contain.

  1. Sulphates

  2. Nitrates

  3. Carbonates

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

Phosphates are used to manufacture Detergents.

When these phosphates enter water bodies, they provide nutrients resulting in algae population explosions or Eutrophication. The algae use up the entire oxygen killing other aquatic organisms.
So, the correct option is 'Phosphates'.