Set 3 | Important Environment Pollution MCQs

Correct Answer is C.

• The first statement is true: biodegradable plastics are those that, under certain circumstances that rely on variables like temperature and moisture content, break down into water, carbon dioxide (or methane), and biomass. Under the correct circumstances, these could be viable substitutes for traditional plastics; however, these are typically absent from the natural world, and the ocean is especially not one of them.
• Statement 2 is untrue: the production of biodegradable plastics requires a lot of energy and money. Compared to their fossil-based counterparts, bio-based plastics are more expensive to produce, particularly when it comes to new polymers that have intriguing biodegradability.
• The third statement is untrue: India is a party to the 1978 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, or MARPOL. One of the most significant international conventions pertaining to marine environmental issues is the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as amended by the 1978 Protocol.
• The International Maritime Organization created it with the goal of reducing ocean and sea pollution, including air, oil, and dumping pollution. Furthermore, under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958, the Merchant Shipping Rules, 2009 also address the prevention of marine pollution.

Correct Answer is B.

• The first statement—that radioactivity is the phenomenon of particles or waves spontaneously emitted from the unstable nuclei of certain elements—is true. Radioactive emissions come in three different forms: beta, gamma, and alpha. The earth’s crust contains naturally occurring radioactive elements.
• Groundwater contamination results from naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) seeping into the aquifer from soil sediments. The use of radioisotopes in industry and scientific laboratories is a minor source of radioactive pollution, whereas nuclear weapon research, nuclear disasters, nuclear power plants, and the disposal of radioactive waste are the main human sources of contamination.
• Statement 2 is untrue: Because groundwater is exposed to more radioactive elements found in rocks than surface water, radioactive contamination is more common in groundwater. Magma can occasionally emit radioactive gases into the surrounding air. Radioactive contamination is also brought about by the deposition of these radioactive gases in waterbodies.
• Radioactive nuclei are also added to the surface water by cosmogenic radionuclide atmospheric deposition, both wet and dry. It is true that water resources are contaminated by three NORM series: actinium, thorium, and uranium. One of the distinctly radiotoxic elements present in aquatic systems and one that can seep into groundwater is radium, a member of the NORM series. Seas and oceans are the, as stated in statement 4.

Correct Answer is B.

• False statement 1: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has established the nation’s first e-waste clinic for the purpose of sorting, processing, and discarding waste from homes and businesses. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an e-waste clinic.
• It is true that Statement 2 refers to outdated, discarded, or end-of-life electronic appliances as “e-waste,” which is short for “Electronic-Waste.”. Parts, consumables, spares, and other parts are all included. It falls into one of two major categories: Communication and information technology. Electronics and consumer electrical.
• Statement 3 is true: Mercury, lead, and brominated flame retardants are among the toxic materials that make up electrical and electronic waste, or “e-waste,” which is classified as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention. E-waste can also include rare materials of strategic importance like indium and palladium, as well as precious metals like gold, copper, and nickel. Recovery, recycling, and valuable secondary material sources are possible for these heavy and precious metals.

Correct Answer is C.

• Statement 1 is true: molecules that absorb short-wave radiations, like ultraviolet rays, which are a component of solar radiation, are considered non-ionizing radiations. They cause eye damage from snow (snow blindness), coastal sand, and direct sunlight during an eclipse. They damage blood vessels and skin cells, resulting in sunburns, which are blisters and redness. Only materials that absorb them and have a low penetrability are impacted by non-ionizing radiation.
• It is true that Statement 2 describes this type of ionization, which includes high-penetration radiations like X-rays, cosmic rays, and atomic radiations that break macromolecules. Both short- and long-term effects could result from the molecular damage. The skin, intestinal lining, bone marrow, gamete-forming cells, embryos, and foetus are among the actively dividing tissues that are more radiation-sensitive. Macromolecules break under the strong penetration power of ionizing radiation.

Correct Answer is A.

• The first statement—that mercury is a naturally occurring element present in soil, water, and air—is true. Mercury exposure, even in tiny doses, poses a risk to a developing child’s health and development during pregnancy and the early years of life.
• The world’s first legally binding agreement to safeguard human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury was adopted in Geneva in 2013 and is known as the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
• It bears the name of the Japanese city that in the 1950s became the epicenter of Minamata disease, a neurological condition brought on by extreme mercury poisoning. In 2014, India signed the Convention, and in 2018, it was ratified. It became operative in 2017.
• Statement 2 is untrue: The World Health Organization lists mercury as one of the top ten chemicals, or groupings of chemicals, that pose a serious risk to public health. It may have harmful effects on the kidneys, lungs, skin, eyes, nervous, digestive, and immune systems. After the US, India is the world’s second-largest user of mercury.
• Statements 3 and 4 are true: Eating fish and shellfish containing the organic compound methylmercury is the primary way that people are exposed to it. Methylmercury and ethyl mercury are not the same. Certain vaccines contain ethyl mercury as a preservative; this is not harmful to health.

Correct Answer is D.

• The first statement is true: Phosphates are chemical compounds that contain phosphorous, a vital mineral for the growth and development of both plants and animals. Although too much phosphate can lead to a type of water pollution known as eutrophication and is a source of variety of water pollution , phosphate is necessary for plant and animal life and is used in waste and water treatments to neutralize contaminants and limit bacterial growth.
• For example, drinking water contamination in many countries is primarily caused by metal leaching from water pipes, primarily due to lead dissolution, posing a threat to public health. In order to stop corrosion and metal leaching, especially lead poisoning in drinking water distribution systems, water companies treat the water by adding phosphate.
• Statement 2 is true: Nonylphenol, a dangerous chemical found in detergents, is known to get into food chains and water bodies. It can seriously endanger human health and the environment because it bioaccumulates. It has been found in human blood, urine, and breast milk. In rodents, it has an impact on development and reproduction.
• Statement 3 is true: an excessive concentration of minerals and nutrients in a body of water causes an algal bloom, or excessive growth of algae. It causes pollution in the water by depriving it of available oxygen, which leads to the death of other organisms.

Correct Answer is A.

• Statement 1 is true: the National Air Quality Index is a tool that was introduced in 2014 and provides the average person with a “One Number, One Color, One Description” to assess the quality of the air in his neighborhood. It employs numbers to categorize pollution levels into six groups, which simplifies data on a city’s air quality.
• It was crucial to publish information on air quality in plain language that the average person could understand in the public domain. One such tool for efficiently informing people about air quality is the Air Quality Index (AQI).
• Statement 2 is untrue: the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change launched it, but the CPCB Central Pollution Control Board developed it in consultation with IIT-Kanpur and an expert group made up of medical and air quality professionals.
• Statement 3 is untrue: Eight pollutants are used to measure air quality: lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), ammonia (NH3), and particulate matter (PM10).
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Since carbon dioxide is not a polluting gas and the air quality index counts the amount of pollutants in the air, carbon dioxide is not included in the index. One greenhouse gas that helps to retain heat near Earth is carbon dioxide.

Correct Answer is D.

• Acid rain damages the following materials: Metals: Metals, particularly iron, steel, and copper, can corrode in acid rain, resulting in rusting and structural weakening.
• Paper: Acid rain can break down paper, especially old or untreated paper, by making it more brittle and speeding up its degradation.
• Photographic Materials: Photographic materials are susceptible to pH changes, so acid rain can harm them and cause fading or deterioration of the images.
• Rubber: Over time, acid rain can erode rubber, causing it to crack and become weaker.
• Glass and ceramics: While ceramics are typically resistant to acid rain, prolonged exposure to acid rain can cloud or etch glass.
• Paints and organic coatings: The corrosive effects of acid rain can lead paints and organic coatings to peel, fade, or blister, diminishing their aesthetic appeal and protective capabilities.
• In conclusion, acid rain can harm any of the materials on the list, albeit to different degrees.

Correct Answer is B.

• Statement 1 is accurate: Thermal pollution refers to the change in temperature of a natural aquatic environment due to human activities. This issue has become increasingly prevalent and is one of the most recent types of pollution, driven by the widespread effects of globalization.
• Thermal pollution occurs when hot water is discharged from factories and power plants or when trees and vegetation that provide shade to streams are removed, allowing sunlight to raise water temperatures. It can also result from the release of cold water, which lowers water temperatures. Similar to other types of water pollution, thermal pollution is widespread, impacting numerous lakes, streams, and rivers across various regions of the world.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: A recent study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune indicates that marine heatwaves have been increasing in the waters surrounding India. Marine heatwaves are periods of unusually high ocean temperatures.
• The study found that the western Indian Ocean region saw the largest increase in marine heatwaves, with about 1.5 events per decade, followed by the northern Bay of Bengal with 0.5 events per decade. These marine heatwaves in the western Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal have worsened drying conditions over the central Indian subcontinent.
• Statement 3 is correct: Marine heatwaves are periods of exceptionally high ocean temperatures, exceeding the 90th percentile. These events lead to habitat destruction, including coral bleaching, seagrass decline, and the loss of kelp forests, which negatively impact the fisheries sector. An underwater survey revealed that 85% of the corals in the Gulf of Mannar, near the Tamil Nadu coast, were bleached following the marine heatwave in May 2020.

Correct Answer is B.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: E-waste includes any device with a plug, cord, or battery that has reached the end of its life, such as toasters, smartphones, and laptops, as well as their components.
• Statement 2 is correct: The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016, require producers to manage e-waste collection, dismantling, and recycling through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Dismantlers and recyclers must obtain authorization from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs).
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The report titled Waste Wise Cities: Best Practices in Municipal Solid Waste Management by NITI Aayog and the Centre for Science and Environment, published last year, notes the rapid growth in the use of electronic devices and the corresponding surge in e-waste.
• The UN has referred to this trend as a “tsunami” of e-waste. The report emphasizes that e-waste is usually excluded from the municipal solid waste category, making it outside the direct responsibility of cities for collection, transport, and management.