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 evs - i the environment and us air pollution and its effects environment and conservation environmental pollution and industries threatened species need of conservation conservation of soil and wild life

Which of the following pollution involves eutrophication?

  1. Water pollution

  2. Noise pollution

  3. Air pollution

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
 Eutrophication is when a water body is induced by unnecessary growth of algae. Eutrophication results in declining the quality of water and in reducing dissolved oxygen in water bodies. Eutrophication is divided into two types - natural and cultural. 
Example, addition of excessive fertilizers to the fields will lead to their accumulation into a nearby water body during run-offs
So, the correct answer is 'Water pollution'
Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us air pollution and its effects environment and conservation environmental pollution and industries threatened species need of conservation conservation of soil and wild life

The direct discharge of pollutants into water bodies leads to

  1. Water pollution

  2. Soil pollution

  3. Air pollution

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

Water pollution is the mixing of contaminants to the water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater) which changes the desired quality of water. Water pollution affects the entire biosphere, plants and organisms living in these bodies of water.

Multiple choice evs - i the environment and us air pollution and its effects environment and conservation environmental pollution and industries threatened species need of conservation conservation of soil and wild life

Water pollution causes damage to the

  1. Humans only

  2. Entire ecosystem

  3. Plants only

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

Water pollution affects the entire biosphere, plants and organisms as all the life forms depend on water for their survival. In almost all cases, the effect is damaging not only to individual species and population but also to the natural biological communities. 

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

The unfavourable alteration of environment due to human activities is termed as

  1. Ecological disturbance

  2. Catastrophe

  3. Ecological degradation

  4. Pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Pollution is defined as the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment unfavorable for life by the introduction of a contaminant into a natural environment through human activities. Thus the correct answer is option D.
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Which of the following is the major cause of pollution?

  1. Plants

  2. Man

  3. Fungi

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

Hydrocarbons are nonbiodegradable pollutants. They are a type of secondary pollutants. They are very dangerous for life. Hydrocarbons are produced naturally as well as due to incomplete combustion of the fuels. They are the major cause of respiratory disorders. Man used fuel for their own purpose with releases harmful gasses and causes pollution.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Pollution is

  1. Release of toxic or undesirable materials in environment

  2. Conservation of energy

  3. Removal of top soil

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

Pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful or undesirable substances into the environment, which causes adverse effects on living organisms and natural systems.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

'Heat islands' are produced due to

  1. Air pollution

  2. Water pollution

  3. Land pollution

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

A heat island is an area that is constantly warmer than surrounding areas. One of the reasons for the formation of heat island is air pollution. Other important reasons are changes in landscape due to the construction of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure which had replaced open land and vegetation. An island formation is the result of local changes in the environment brought about by urbanisation and release of polluting gases.

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Heat islands are formed by

  1. Water pollution

  2. Air pollution

  3. Land pollution

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

The heat island is a phenomenon where heat can no longer escape. The high temperature in urban areas as compared to rural areas can be called heat island effect. With the loss of vegetation and land surface in urban areas, heat gets trapped between buildings and dense areas which cause a warming effect. The air pollution due to greenhouse gases is responsible for this. Bigger cities have large heat island effects, the waste heat from energy use, seasonal changes, local weather also contribute to heat islands.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Air pollution'.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Which pollution is considered as major environmental risk factor on environment?

  1. Visual pollution

  2. Therml pollution

  3. Soil pollution

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

Air pollution is widely recognized as one of the most significant environmental risk factors globally, causing millions of premature deaths annually through respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. While visual, thermal, and soil pollution are serious concerns, air pollution has the broadest and most direct impact on human health and ecosystems globally. The WHO identifies air pollution as the largest environmental health risk.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Effect of pollution is observed first on

  1. Food crops

  2. Green vegetation

  3. Micro-organisms

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

Air pollution can directly affect plants via leaves or indirectly via soil acidification. When exposed to pollutants, most plants experience physiological changes before exhibiting visible damage to leaves like necrosis, chlorosis. The atmospheric SO$ _2$ adversely affects various morphological and physiological characteristics of plants through acid rain. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Pollution can bring about change in

  1. Biogeochemical cycling

  2. Abiotic environment

  3. Biotic environment

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

Pollution in all forms can cause a disturbance in the ecosystem. Melting of glaciers can cause rising in sea levels, which increase the threat of mixing fresh and salt water and the species can be extinct, the food chain can be disrupted, climatic change can cause instability, several areas might become prone to erosions, landslides, heavy rainstorms can cause migrations and crisis of survival. When the abiotic environment is disturbed, the worst effects are finally faced by the biotic environment.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Biotic environment'.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Environmental pollution effects

  1. Biotic components

  2. Plants only

  3. Man only

  4. Biotic and abiotic components of environemnt
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biotic components are living things and abiotic components are non-living being in an ecosystem. Pollution of any kind adversely affect these components, contaminated air affects the natural cycle of respiration for trees, human and animals, excessive use of fertilisers diminish the quality of soil and malign the quality of water. Smoke and chemical production cause ozone depletion. Lands are becoming infertile, natural water bodies are drying up, and with the development new kind of pollution can be identified such as nuclear pollution making soil, water and atmosphere radioactive for long period.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Biotic and abiotic components of environment'.

Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Which of the following does not cause soil pollution

  1. Acid rain

  2. Agriculture activities

  3. Monsoon rain

  4. Industrial activities
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
The following are the main mechanisms that generate soil pollution:
A. Antropogenic – through human activity including:
1. Accidental spills and leaks during storage, transport or use of chemicals (e.g., leaks and spills of gasoline and diesel at gas stations);
2. Foundry activities and manufacturing processes that involve furnaces or other processes resulting in possible dispersion of contaminants in environment;
3. Mining activities involving crushing and processing of raw materials (such as mining activity);
4. Construction activities
5. Agricultural activities involving the spread of herbicides/pesticides/insecticides and fertilizers;
6. Transportation activities (e.g., vehicle emissions)
7. Dumping of chemicals (accidental or intended – such as illegal dumping);
Storage of wastes in landfills (which may leak to groundwater or generate polluted vapours)
8. Cracked paint chips falling from building walls, especially lead-based paint;
B. Natural causes:
1. Natural accumulation of compounds in soil due to imbalances between atmospheric deposition and leaching away with precipitation water (e.g., concentration and accumulation of perchlorate in soils in arid environments).
2. Natural production in soil under certain environmental conditions (e.g., natural formation of perchlorate in soil in the presence of a chlorine source, metallic object and using the energy generated by a thunderstorm).
3. Leaks from sewer lines into subsurface (e.g., adding chlorine which could generate trihalometanes such as chloroform).
Multiple choice business organisation and correspondence environmental pollution and industries air pollution and its effects the environment and us environment and conservation

Soil pollution is caused by

  1. Pesticides

  2. Fertilizers

  3. Industrial waste

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

Soil pollution is caused by removal or addition of substances and factors which decrease its productivity. It is caused by agrochemicals, industrial wastes, municipal wastes etc. It adversely affects the fertility of the soil.