Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
What environmental damage is caused to national monuments and archaeological sites by noise booms?
Answer
They cause cracks in the structures.
Question
Continuous exposure to noise levels above which threshold has an adverse effect on hearing ability?
Answer
100 dB
Question
What are the physiological effects of noise levels between 130 and 135 dB on human beings?
Answer
Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Question
A noise level of 140 dB typically causes what physical sensation in humans?
Answer
Pain in the ear.
Question
Which physiological change occurs in humans at a noise level of 150 dB?
Answer
A significant change in pulse rate.
Question
What is the consequence of being exposed to a noise level of 190 dB?
Answer
Permanent damage to hearing.
Question
At what noise level do birds typically begin to avoid migrating to certain places?
Answer
Above 100 dB
Question
What is the potential impact of noise pollution on the reproduction of birds?
Answer
Some birds have been found to stop laying eggs.
Question
How does noise pollution affect mammals and fishes according to recent research?
Answer
It may cause miscarriage.
Question
According to the text, which four primary gases are responsible for Global Warming?
Answer
Carbon dioxide ($CO_{2}$), Methane, Nitrogen Oxide, and Chlorofluorocarbons.
Question
In which global region will temperatures rise more significantly due to Global Warming?
Answer
The Northern hemisphere.
Question
How does rising warmth affect mountain snowlines?
Answer
Snowlines melt earlier.
Question
What is the environmental consequence of excessive heat on soil devoid of vegetative cover?
Answer
It will not retain moisture for long, leading to droughts.
Question
Why do glacial lakes flood more frequently as temperatures rise?
Answer
They are fed with meltwater faster than the rate at which they can be drained.
Question
Which three major river deltas are threatened by flooding and salt intrusion?
Answer
The Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus deltas.
Question
How does Carbon monoxide ($CO$) pollution affect human health?
Answer
It damages lungs, weakens bones, and reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
Question
What are the primary health effects of Sulphur dioxide ($SO_{2}$) in humans?
Answer
It obstructs breathing and causes irritation of the eyes and throat.
Question
Term: Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)
Answer
Definition: Minute particles of solid or liquid matter like soot and smoke that cause asthma, eye irritation, and cancer.
Question
How do Oxides of Nitrogen affect human resistance to illness?
Answer
They lower resistance to influenza.
Question
What are the health consequences of Lead pollution in humans?
Answer
It causes brain damage, affects growth, and leads to high blood pressure.
Question
Which specific organs are damaged by Arsenic pollution?
Answer
The kidneys.
Question
List two short-term effects of air pollution.
Answer
Irritation in the eyes/nose/throat and respiratory infections like pneumonia.
Question
List two long-term effects of air pollution.
Answer
Lung cancer and damage to the nerves, brain, liver, or kidneys.
Question
What was the specific toxic gas leaked during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984?
Answer
Methyl isocyanate (MIC).
Question
What is the primary way air pollutants affect plant growth and metabolism?
Answer
By destroying chlorophyll and disrupting photosynthesis.
Question
Which pollutant causes the bleaching of leaf surfaces and yellowing in green leafy vegetables?
Answer
Sulphur dioxide ($SO_{2}$).
Question
What is the effect of Nitrogen dioxide ($NO_{2}$) on plants?
Answer
It results in the premature falling of leaves and suppressed growth.
Question
How does Peroxyacetyl Nitrate (PAN) affect plants?
Answer
It damages leafy vegetables and causes premature fall, discolouration, and curling of sepals.
Question
Which acid is formed when Sulphur dioxide ($SO_{2}$) combines with moisture in the atmosphere?
Answer
Sulphuric acid ($H_{2}SO_{4}$).
Question
What effect does Sulphur dioxide ($SO_{2}$) have on leather and paper materials?
Answer
It causes paper to become brittle and leather to undergo disintegration.
Question
Term: Eutrophication
Answer
Definition: The process of oxygen depletion in waterbodies due to the introduction of excessive nutrients from sewage or fertilisers.
Question
Term: Biomagnification
Answer
Definition: The process of increasing the concentration of toxic substances at each successive trophic level of a food chain.
Question
In the context of water pollution, what is 'bioaccumulation'?
Answer
The phenomenon of concentrated toxic deposition at higher trophic levels.
Question
Which disease was caused in Japan by mercury-contaminated fish from Minamata Bay?
Answer
Minamata disease.
Question
The consumption of which heavy metal leads to 'Itai-itai' disease?
Answer
Cadmium.
Question
Which water pollutant is responsible for 'fluorosis', causing teeth discolouration and skeletal problems?
Answer
Fluoride.
Question
How does the release of hot water from power stations affect aquatic environments?
Answer
It increases the water temperature and reduces its oxygen level.
Question
List three water-borne diseases caused by pathogens in sewage.
Answer
Cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis.
Question
How does Nitrogenous fertiliser pollution affect plant leaves?
Answer
It produces toxic concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in the leaves.
Question
How can pathogens from polluted soil enter the human body?
Answer
Through the consumption of fruits and vegetables grown in that soil.
Question
What is the primary source of radioisotopes that enter the food chain via grazing animals?
Answer
Radioactive fallout on vegetation.
Question
How does sewage pollution affect soil microorganisms?
Answer
Sewage particles clog the small pores of the soil and destroy the microorganisms within.
Question
What are the four main sources of radioactive pollution?
Answer
Nuclear weapons testing, nuclear power plants, mining/refining radioactive substances, and X-rays.
Question
Term: Genetic Variation (Radiation)
Answer
Definition: Harmful changes in body cells caused by radiation that can be transmitted to offspring across generations.
Question
Term: Somatic Variation (Radiation)
Answer
Definition: Harmful effects of short-term radiation exposure on organs, including cancers (breast, thyroid, lung, brain) and sterility.
Question
In which year did the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident occur?
Answer
1986
Question
What was the 'Red Forest' in the context of the Chernobyl disaster?
Answer
A four-square-kilometre area of pine forest that turned reddish-brown and died due to high radiation.
Question
How does noise pollution impact industrial productivity and safety?
Answer
It interferes with efficiency and communication, raising the possibility of accidents.
Question
What causes the 'numbness of body parts, vision and hearing problems' described in the Japan mercury case study?
Answer
Consumption of methyl mercury-contaminated fish.
Question
Under what condition can noise cause physical illness through tension?
Answer
If continuous noise levels exceed 100 dB.
Question
What effect does Ozone have on human respiratory health?
Answer
It causes irritation of the eyes and aggravates asthma.
Question
How does air pollution affect the durability of textiles?
Answer
It discolours, deteriorates, and reduces the strength of the fabric.
Question
Which pollutants from agricultural runoff contribute most significantly to algae growth in waterbodies?
Answer
Phosphorus and Nitrates.
Question
How does lead poisoning specifically manifest in pet animals?
Answer
It results in bronchitis and a lack of appetite.
Question
What is the threshold for noise to be considered at the 'Threshold of audibility'?
Answer
Less than 90 dB.
Question
What are the consequences of high-intensity explosions on building structures?
Answer
They can break glass panes and cause vibrations in the buildings.
Question
How does noise pollution affect the sleep patterns of individuals?
Answer
It causes difficulties in sleeping as noisy conditions prevent adjustment to natural sounds.
Question
Which air pollutant is specifically noted for causing brain damage and affecting growth in children?
Answer
Lead.
Question
What is the effect of Ozone on plant leaves?
Answer
It causes direct damage to the leaves.
Question
Which historical monument is explicitly mentioned as being damaged by Sulphur dioxide ($SO_{2}$)?
Answer
The Taj Mahal.