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

Fourteen largest cities in the country, including the four metros, are scheduled to shift to which of the following vehicular emission norms from April 1, 2010?

  1. Bharat Stage V

  2. Bharat Stage IV

  3. Bharat Stage III

  4. Bharat Stage II

  5. Bharat Stage I
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

India follows the Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards for vehicular pollution, which are based on European norms. The implementation was phased across major cities first. On April 1, 2010, fourteen largest cities including the four metropolitan cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) upgraded from Bharat Stage III to Bharat Stage IV norms. This was part of a planned environmental policy to reduce vehicular emissions in densely populated urban areas. BS-IV introduced stricter limits on pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.

Multiple choice

There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in the manufacturing of various products. Why?

  1. They can accumulate in the environment, and contaminate water and soil.
  2. They can enter the food chains.
  3. They can trigger the production of free radicals.

Which of the following is the correct option?

  1. 1 and 2 only

  2. 3 only

  3. 1 and 3 only

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All statements are correct based on fundamentals of Nanotoxicolgy.

Multiple choice

Depletion of ozone causes

  1. global warming

  2. eutrophication

  3. skin cancer

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

Depletion of ozone layer makes way for harmful UV radiations to enter Earth's atmosphere, leading to skin cancer.

Multiple choice

Agricultural sources are the cause of

  1. greenhouse effect

  2. toxicity in rivers

  3. eutrophication

  4. change in pH of rivers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Agricultural sources increase the level of nitrates and phosphates in water bodies. It causes rapid algal growth, making water oxygen deficient, leading to suffocation of aquatic life. This is called eutrophication.

Multiple choice

Effect of pollution is first marked on:

  1. green vegetables of an area

  2. micro-organisms

  3. fodder crop

  4. weeds

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

The effect of pollution is most prominently seen in green vegetables of an area.

Multiple choice

Pollution is not caused by:

  1. thermal power plant

  2. automobile

  3. radioactive power plant

  4. hydroelectric power plant

  5. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No pollution is caused by a hydroelectric power plant as it utilises water for production of electricity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a point source of water pollution?

  1. Factories

  2. Power plants

  3. Breweries

  4. Construction sites

  5. Underground coal mines
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as construction sites are not a point source of water pollution. They are a non-point source of water pollution. Unlike point sources, these sources are difficult to monitor and treat, to remove the pollutants.