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 business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Which is not a positive pollution -

  1. More use of bio fertilizer

  2. Land filling by wastes

  3. Deforestation

  4. Deforestation of nuclear waste in soil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Deforestation is a permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses and resulting in damage to the quality of land. It leads to loss of many animal and plant species by disturbing their habitat that may result in their extinction.
So the correct answer is 'Deforestation'.
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Soap and detergents are the source of organic pollutants like:

  1. Glycerol

  2. Polyphosphates

  3. Sulphonated hydrocarbons

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

Detergents often contain phosphates (which cause eutrophication), surfactants like sulphonated hydrocarbons, and other organic additives, all of which contribute to water pollution.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Effect of pollution is first marked on 

  1. Micro-organisms

  2. Green vegetation of an area

  3. Food crop

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Atmospheric pollutants have a negative effect on the plants; they can have direct toxic effects, or indirectly by changing soil pH followed by solubilization of toxic salts of metals like aluminium. The particulate matters have a negative mechanical effect. They cover the leaf blade reducing light penetration and blocking the opening of stomata. These influence strongly the process of photosynthesis whose rate declines sharply. Also, the leaves of the trees have an important role in the retention of the particulate matters; they are mostly affected when the wet and dry atmospheric deposition increase.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Effect of pollution is first marked on

  1. Natural balance of the ecosystem

  2. Geological cycle

  3. Rainfall and climate

  4. Fauna of a place
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pollution disrupts the natural equilibrium of ecosystems, affecting the interactions between biotic and abiotic components before specific impacts on climate or fauna are observed.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Which of the following are bio pollutants? 

  1. Spores and pollen grains

  2. Algae

  3. Protonzoans

  4. Dairy and poultry waste
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Excessive amounts of nitrates and phosphates from agricultural run-off cause a type of biopollution called eutrophication that stimulates an explosive growth of algae that depletes the water of oxygen. When the algae die are eaten by bacteria. Hence pond waters become hypoxic (oxygen poor) or anoxic (completely depleted of oxygen) due to algal blooms. Thus the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Industries are the chief source of _____ pollution.

  1. Air

  2. Water

  3. Soil

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

Industries are the chief cases of water, soil and air pollution. All the major cities of India are situated on the banks of some river or the others. Some of the commonly produced industrial waste are boiled ash, metal scraps etc. 

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

When do we consider environment to be polluted?

  1. When the beauty of environment changes

  2. When the composition of environment changes

  3. When the level of unwanted materials in the environment crosses the permissible limit

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Environment is said to be contaminated when there is introduction of some unwanted contaminant in the natural environment. There are certain limitations to the presence of these contaminant upto to which it is considered to be safe. Increase in the level of these would be considered to be polluted.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Effect of pollution is first marked on

  1. Micro-organisms

  2. Green vegetation of an area

  3. Food crop

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Pollution is the addition of contaminants in the natural environment. The effect of pollution is first marked on the green vegetation of an area. Being the producers of energy, green vegetation absorbs air and water; also has direct contact with the soil. Thus, if any of these gets polluted, the green vegetation is first affected which is further passed through the food chain to next trophic level.
So the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Which of following is not a cause of natural pollution ?

  1. Volcanic eryption

  2. UV radiation

  3. Forest fire

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

Natural pollution comes from natural sources like release of methane by cattle and paddy fields, carbon dioxide from plants and animals, dust storms, nitrogen oxides, ozone, volcanic eruptions, emission of natural gas, sol erosion, ultraviolet rays,etc. Mercury is not a cause of natural pollution.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Which of the following statements is correct ?

  1. Primary pollutants are more harmful than secondary pollutants.

  2. Primary pollutants and secondary pollutants are equally harmful.

  3. Secondary pollutants are more harmful than primary pollutants.

  4. DDT is a secondary pollutant.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Primary pollutants persist in the form they are released in the environment. Secondary pollutants are formed by reaction amongst the primary pollutants. Secondary pollutant are more toxic than primary pollutants. DDT is a primary pollutant.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

Which one of the following environmental pollutants has the problem of biomagnifications?

  1. $SO _{2}$
  2. $NO _{3}$

  3. Hg fungicides
  4. $O _{3}$ and $CO _{2}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of a substance in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. Mercury (Hg) compounds are classic examples of persistent pollutants that biomagnify.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

A pollutant is any substance, chemical or other factor that changes 

  1. Natural geochemical cycles

  2. The natural balance of our environment

  3. The natural flora of our environment

  4. The natural wild life of our region
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The environment is our surrounding. This includes living and non-living things around us. The non-living components of the environment are land, water and air. The living components are plants and animals. All plants and animals adjust to the environment in which they are born and live. A change in any component of the environment may cause discomfort and affect normal life. Any unfavourable change or degradation in the environment is known as environmental pollution. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence industrial pollution and degradation of environment sources of pollution environmental conservation environment and conservation

The toxic substance in ecosystem is called as ________.

  1. Pollution

  2. Pollutant

  3. Imbalance

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Introduction of an undesired component in the natural ecosystem is called as pollution. The undesired component is called as pollutant.

Multiple choice zoology production of food from animals animal breeding animal husbandry and its importance introduction to animal husbandry

Which of the following is the environmental impacts of animal agriculture?

  1. Use of 20-33% of freshwater in the world

  2. Species extinction

  3. Water pollution

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

  • Animal agriculture is responsible for 20%-33% of all freshwater consumption in the world today. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution, and habitat destruction. 
  • Animal agriculture contributes to species extinction in many ways. In addition to the monumental habitat destruction caused by clearing forests and converting land to grow feed crops and for animal grazing, predators and "competition" species are frequently targeted and hunted because of a perceived threat to livestock profits. 
  • The widespread use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers used in the production of feed crops often interferes with the reproductive systems of animals and poison waterways. 
  • Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.