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 economics sustainable development with equity introduction to social movements and its types social movements liberalisation

Surface water has been polluted due to industrialisation and urbanisation, while, ground water has remained free from contaminants.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

False 

Industrialization refers to the process of using natural resources for the development of the economy. The process of industrialization has polluted the surface water as well as groundwater. 

Multiple choice economics sustainable development with equity introduction to social movements and its types social movements liberalisation

Which of the following can be listed as the negative effects of economic development on the environment?

  1. Increased air pollution

  2. Global warming

  3. Loss of biodiversity

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

Economic development refers to the process of using natural resources for the development of the economy. But in developed countries the resources are exploited in a very large quantity that leads to the depletion of these stock of natural resources. The negative effects of economic development are increased air pollution, global warming and loss of biodiversity. 

Multiple choice biology towards green energy solar power plant generation of electricity production of electricity from solar energy

The ultimate environmental hazard to mankind is 

  1. Air pollution

  2. Water pollution

  3. Noise pollution

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

In modern times the biggest environmental threat to mankind is nuclear pollution as the effects of radiation pollution cannot be repaired or reversed. 

Other forms of pollution can be controlled and ill effects reversed but radiations affect coming generations through genetic mutations. Harmful effects of radioactive pollution were first recorded in 1909 in uranium miners as skin burns, cancers and mutations. Many plants are killed even at low level of radioactivity. Young and recently divided cells are more easily damaged. Delayed effects of radioactive pollution include tumors, cancers, mutations, genetic deformities, and shorter life span. These effects are clearly visible only in subsequent generations.

Multiple choice biology towards green energy solar power plant generation of electricity production of electricity from solar energy

Problem associated with nuclear power plant is 

  1. Thermal pollution

  2. Emission of hazardous radio-nuclides

  3. Disposal of radioactive waste

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

Some thermal power stations exchange 60 to 70% of their thermal energy by cycling with a body of water or by evaporating water through a cooling tower. 

This thermal efficiency creates more waste heat. Most commercial nuclear power plants release gaseous and liquid radiological effluents into the environment as a byproduct. 
The nuclear fission of uranium-235 produces large quantities of intermediate mass radioisotopes. The mass distribution of these radioisotopes peaks at about mass numbers 95 and 137 , and most of them are radioactive. The most dangerous for environmental release are cesium and strontium because of their intermediate half-lives and entry in the food chain.

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 the addition of contaminants into the natural environment that can cause undesirable change. It may be the chemical and physical change. Pollutants are the contaminants that cause pollution.

So, 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

The most polluted city of the world is

  1. Zabol

  2. Calcutta

  3. Tokyo

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

According to the WHO, the most polluted city in the world in 2016 is Zabol in Iran with particulate matter concentration of 2.5. This is more than 20 times higher than the WHO's guidelines. Thus 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

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.