Pollution (Part-III)

Total Questions: 43

21. The most toxic metal pollutant of automobile exhaust is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009, 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006]

(a) Copper
(b) Lead
(c) Cadmium
(d) Mercury

Correct Answer: (b) Lead

Solution:Automobiles use lead as an anti-knocking agent. Lead when released in the air with exhaust are most toxic. Lead affects the nervous system, brain and digestive system of the human body.

22. Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what still are the sources of lead poisoning? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

1. Smelting units

2. Pens and pencils

3. Paints

4. Hair oils and cosmetics

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3

Solution:Lead is a common environmental pollutant. Children living near factories that process lead, such as lead smelters, have been found to have unusually high blood lead levels. Some lead compounds are colourful and are widely used in paints and lead paint is a major route of lead exposure in children. Except these, soil, water, lead-containing products, bullets are other sources of lead. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

23. Which one of the following is not correctly matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Pollutant	Disease Caused
(a) Mercury	Minamata disease
(b) Cadmium	Itai-Itai disease
(c) Nitrate Ion	Blue baby syndrome
(d) Fluoride Ion	Indigestion

Correct Answer: (d)

Solution:Chronic fluorosis is a widespread disease-related to the ingestion of high levels of fluoride through water and food. Prolonged ingestion of fluoride adversely affects the teeth, bones and other organs and alters their anatomy and physiology.

24. Consider the following pairs : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2017]

Commonly used/consumed materials	Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to be found in them
1. Lipstick	Lead
2. Soft drinks	Brominated
3. Chinese fast food	Monosodium glutamate

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:Not so long ago, lead in lipsticks, eyeliners, and mascaras were considered to be an "urban legend" as per FDA. The horrors of the same came to life when the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration) tested hundreds of lipsticks. Two consecutive FDA investigations found lead in 100 per cent of the lipsticks tested. Moreover, the amount of lead found wasn't negligible.

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO for short) is a food additive sometimes used to keep citrus flavoring from separating out in sodas and other beverages.

Mono-sodium Glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that has been widely used for roughly 100 years. In addition to being naturally present in certain foods, it's a common food additive in Chinese recipes, canned vegetables and soups, and other processed goods.

25. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer by using codes given below the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]

List-I (Air Pollutant)	List-II (Part Affected)
A. Asbestos Dust	1. Brain
B. Lead	2. Stomach
C. Mercury	3. Lung
D. Carbon Monoxide	4. Bloodstream

Codes:

Option	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	3	1	2	4
(c)	3	2	4	1
(d)	2	3	1	4

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:Asbestos is a poisonous material whose dust could cause lung cancer. Lead affects the nervous system and brain of the human body. Mercury affects the human stomach, Carbon monoxide displaces the oxygen in the human bloodstream and lead to poisoning.

26. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from codes given below the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

List-I (Pollutants)	List-II (Effects)
A. Carbon monoxide	1. Damage to liver and kidney
B. Oxides of Nitrogen	2. Cancer
C. Soil Particles	3. Ailment related to breathing
D. Lead	4. Central nervous system

Codes:

Option	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	3	4	1
(b)	4	3	2	1
(c)	1	2	3	4
(d)	4	3	1	2

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:

(Pollutants)	(Effects)
Carbon monoxide	Damage to liver and kidney
Oxides of Nitrogen	Cancer
Soil Particles	Ailment related to breathing
Lead	Central nervous system

27. Which of the following are some important pollutants released by the steel industry in India? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

1. Oxides of sulphur

2. Oxides of nitrogen

3. Carbon monoxide

4. Carbon dioxide

Select the correct answer using codes given below.

(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Solution:In steel furnace, coke reacts with iron ore releasing iron and generating Carbon monoxide and Carbon dioxide gases. Due to the use of coal, pollutants such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are released. Thus, all the options are correct. Hence, option(d) is the correct answer.

28. Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of foxins known as aflatoxins, which are not destroyed by the normal cooking process? Aflatoxins are produced by: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Bacteria
(c) Moulds
(c) Moulds
(d) Viruses

Correct Answer: (c) Moulds

Solution:Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals produced by certain moulds which grow in soil, decaying vegetation and grain. They are regularly found in improperly stored staple commodities such as cassava, chili peppers, corn, cottonseed, millet, peanuts, rice, wheat etc.

29. Brominated flame retardants are used in many household products like mattresses and upholstery. Why is there some concern about their use? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

1. They are highly resistant to degradation in the environment.

2. They can accumulate in humans and animals.

Select the correct answer using codes given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:Brominated flame retardants are organobromine compounds that have an inhibitory effect on combustion chemistry and tend to reduce the flammability of products containing them. Some brominated flame retardants were identified as persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic to both humans and the environment and were suspected of causing neuro-behavioral effect and endocrine disruption.

30. The size of the Respirable suspended Particulate Matter (R.S.P.M.) in air is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

(a) more than 7 um (microne)
(b) more than 6 um (microne)
(c) more than 5 um (microne)
(d) less than 5 um (microne)

Correct Answer: (d) less than 5 um (microne)

Solution:The size of the Respirable Suspended Particulated Matter (R.S.P.M.) in the air is less than 5 um (microne). Respirable Suspended Particulate Matters are particulate matters with a aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometes. They are produced from combustion processes, vehicles, and industrial sources.

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