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 effects of water pollution effect of water pollution water pollution and its control

Disposal of sewage and industrial effluents into water bodies, resulting in contamination of

  1. Soil

  2. Water

  3. Air

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

The disposal of sewage and industrial effluents directly into water bodies introduces pollutants that contaminate the water, rendering it unsafe for various uses.

Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment effects of water pollution effect of water pollution water pollution and its control

Phosphate pollution is caused by _______.

  1. Weathering of phosphate rocks only

  2. Agriculture fertilizers

  3. Phosphate rocks and sewage

  4. Sewage and agricultural fertilizers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Phosphate pollution in the water is directly related to the release of the untreated sewage and agriculture fertilizers into the water body. This results in excessive algal bloom that forms a thick layer on the surface of the water and prevents the sunlight and oxygen from getting into the water. As a result, the underlying aquatic animals and plants suffocate and die. When this algal bloom dies, it further enhances the eutrophication process, greatly decreasing the dissolved oxygen in the water.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Sewage and agricultural fertilizers'.

Multiple choice

all of the following are major sources of water pollution EXCEPT:

  1. industries

  2. municipal sewage

  3. agriculture

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

Industries, municipal sewage, and agriculture are all major, large-scale contributors to water pollution. Motor boats contribute to pollution, but they are considered a minor or localized source compared to the massive industrial and agricultural runoff.

Multiple choice

Steel and chemical factories are major polluters mostly because they

  1. Use municipal sewage systems

  2. release runoffs of pesticides

  3. generate large amounts of wastewater

  4. require a small amount of water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Steel and chemical industries are water-intensive processes that require massive amounts of water for cooling and chemical processing. This results in large volumes of wastewater that must be managed.

Multiple choice

Pollution without a central source of origin is:

  1. air pollution

  2. regional scale pollution

  3. water pollution

  4. nonpoint-source pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Nonpoint-source pollution comes from many diffuse sources rather than a single pipe or factory. Examples include runoff from farms, city streets, and construction sites.

Multiple choice

Pollution occurs if:

  1. There is more waste than a resource can handle

  2. There is less waste than environmental capacity

  3. Recycling occurs

  4. A regulation is passed
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Pollution is defined as the introduction of harmful substances or waste into the environment at a rate that exceeds the natural capacity of the ecosystem to neutralize or process them.

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Which of the following statements is true about acid rain? 

  1. Acid rain will erode marble statues

  2. Acid rain can change the pH of lakes and streams

  3. Acid rain can be formed from carbon dioxide

  4. Acid rain creates holes in the ozone layer

  5. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is caused due to oxides of nitrogen and sulphur reacting with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals present high in the atmosphere resulting into acidic pollutants.

As a result of this, $pH$ of rainwater lowers down to $5$ resulting in $pH$ change of lakes and streams.
It also reacts with calcium carbonate present in the marbles causing weathering. 
The oxides of sulphur may also react with $O _3$ present in ozone, thus depleting the ozone layer. Hence all the given statements are correct

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Which of the following is not correctly matched?

  1. Water pollution - using synthetic detergents for washing clothes

  2. Photochemical smog - releasing gases produced by automobiles and factories

  3. Damaging ozone layer -using CFCS

  4. Acid rain - releasing pesticides and fertilizers in water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The main component of acid rain are sulphuric acid, nitric acid and carbonic acid that are present in atmosphere due to cars and industries and factory waste. Human actions like using detergent, releasing pesticides and fertilizers in water lead to acid rain.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can contribute to water pollution?

  1. Sewage run off

  2. Landfill sites

  3. Pesticides from farmland

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

Water pollution can be caused by various sources, including agricultural runoff (pesticides/fertilizers), industrial waste, sewage, and leaching from landfill sites.

Multiple choice

Pollution that comes from many sources

  1. Point-source pollution

  2. Wastewater

  3. None of these

  4. Nonpoint-source pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Nonpoint-source pollution comes from many diffuse sources, such as runoff from farms, streets, and parking lots, rather than a single identifiable pipe.

Multiple choice

Pollution discharged from a single source

  1. non-point source pollution

  2. None of these

  3. point-source pollution

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

Point-source pollution is defined as pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory pipe or sewage treatment plant.