Pollution MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Pollution - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Section 20.

Key Points

• Section 20 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, empowers State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to obtain information necessary for the performance of their functions.
• SPCBs can request any individual, organization, or industry to furnish relevant data, such as water quality, pollution levels, or operational processes.
• This provision ensures that SPCBs have the information needed to monitor, control, and prevent water pollution effectively.
• Failure to provide the required information or providing false information can result in penalties under the Act.
• The Water Act, 1974, is a comprehensive legal framework aimed at preventing and controlling water pollution and maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness of water.

Additional Information

• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • This Act was enacted by the Government of India to prevent and control water pollution and to ensure the maintenance of clean water bodies.
  • The Act led to the establishment of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
  • It empowers these boards to monitor water quality, set standards, and take action against violators.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • CPCB is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • It works in coordination with SPCBs to implement pollution control laws and standards nationwide.
• Key Sections of the Water Act
  • Section 21: Deals with the power of SPCBs to collect and analyze water samples.
  • Section 33: Discusses penalties and procedures for non-compliance with SPCB directions.
  • Section 30: Empowers SPCBs to carry out emergency measures in case of environmental hazards.
• Importance of SPCBs
  • SPCBs play a pivotal role in monitoring industrial discharge, regulating pollution, and ensuring compliance with environmental laws.
  • They act as a bridge between industries and the government to promote sustainable practices.

The correct answer is - A and D Only

Key Points

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • PAHs are a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline.
  • They are also produced when coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco are burned.
• Carcinogenic Properties
  • PAHs are potent carcinogenic air pollutants.
  • Exposure to PAHs is linked to increased risks of various cancers, including lung, skin, and bladder cancer.
• Formation Due to Combustion
  • PAHs are formed due to the combustion of fossil fuels and other organic materials.
  • Common sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and residential heating.

Additional Information

• Structure of PAHs
  • PAHs are composed of multiple aromatic (benzene) rings fused together.
  • However, they do not require a minimum of 10 benzene rings; they can have as few as two benzene rings.
• Examples of PAHs
  • Common examples include naphthalene, anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene.
  • Formaldehyde is not a PAH; it is a simple aldehyde.
• Health and Environmental Impact
  • PAHs can have significant health effects beyond cancer, including respiratory issues and developmental effects in children.
  • They also have environmental impacts, affecting soil and water quality.

The correct answer is - Option 2 (B and D only)

Key Points

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
  • NO₂ is a significant contributor to acid rain as it reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere to form nitric acid (HNO₃).
  • This process leads to the lowering of pH in precipitation, resulting in acid rain.
• Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)
  • SO₂ is another major contributor to acid rain formation.
  • It reacts with water vapor to form sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), which is a strong acid and significantly lowers the pH of rainwater.

Additional Information

• Acid Rain Formation
  • Acid rain is primarily caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) from burning fossil fuels.
  • These pollutants can travel long distances in the atmosphere before reacting with water vapor to form acids.
  • The resulting acidic precipitation can have harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems, forests, and buildings.
• Environmental Impact
  • Acid rain can lead to the acidification of lakes and streams, making them uninhabitable for many aquatic species.It also leaches essential nutrients from the soil, which can harm plants and reduce agricultural productivity.
  • Buildings and monuments, particularly those made of limestone and marble, can suffer from erosion and structural damage due to acid rain.

The correct answer is - (A) and (D) Only

Key Points

• Acid Rain
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) reacts with water vapor and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, leading to acid rain.
  • Acid rain can cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems, forests, and buildings.
• Incidence of Respiratory Disorders
  • SO₂ is a major air pollutant that can cause respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis.
  • Prolonged exposure to high levels of SO₂ can lead to chronic respiratory diseases and aggravate existing heart diseases.

Additional Information

• Global Warming
  • SO₂ does not significantly contribute to global warming; instead, it forms aerosols that can have a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight.
• Ozone Layer Depletion
  • SO₂ does not directly cause ozone layer depletion. This is primarily caused by substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.

The correct answer is 'Only A, B, and D'.

Key Points

• Noise pollution can lead to hearing loss over time
  • This statement is correct.
  • Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can damage the inner ear and lead to permanent hearing loss.
• It can disturb wildlife and change animal behaviors
  • This statement is correct.
  • Noise pollution can interfere with animal communication, mating rituals, navigation, and increase the risk of predation.
• It contributes to global warming
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • Noise pollution does not directly contribute to global warming, which is primarily caused by greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane.
• Noise pollution can increase stress and anxiety levels
  • This statement is correct.
  • Exposure to continuous or loud noise can trigger stress responses, leading to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

Hence the Statements A, B, and D are correct, while Statement C is incorrect.

Key Points

Explanation:

• Seawater is impure water, so adding salt increases the boiling point of water this is because salt is a non-volatile solute which is responsible for boiling point elevation.
• The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the vapour pressure of the liquid and the surrounding pressure is equal.
• The original boiling point of water is 100°C. After the addition of 58 grams of salt, the boiling point increases by one half of the degree Celsius

The correct answer is Air pollution.

Key Points

• Air pollution has an impact on most of the organs and systems of the human body.
• Air pollution causes various diseases related to the respiratory system.
• Air pollution is the cause and aggravating factor of many respiratory diseases such as:
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Asthma.
  • Lung cancer.
• Air pollutants have complex chemical and physical features dependent on the sources of pollutants.
• Pneumoconiosis is a respiratory disease commonly found in coal minors.

Additional Information

• Lungs is the respiratory organ in higher vertebrates.
• Lungs are organs without muscles.
• Alveoli is the functional unit of the lungs.
• Noise pollution can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress.
• Water pollution can transmit diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio.

Noise pollution is measured in Decibel.

• The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to measure sound level.
• It is also widely used in electronics, signals and communication.
• In ordinary usage, specification of the intensity of a sound implies a comparison of the intensity of the sound with that of a sound just perceptible to the human ear.
• In simple terms, the dB is the ratio between two power levels expressed in logarithmic terms with relation to some reference level.
• For example, if given two known power levels, P2 and P1, the relative value of P2 with respect to P1 in dB is given by:
  • dB = 10 log ₁₀ (P₂/P₁)
• Noise levels below 35–40 dB are usually necessary for a good night’s sleep.
• A busy office may be about 60 dB while the noise level on a footpath beside a busy road might be approximately 75 dB.
• A departing jumbo jet may result in 120 dB being recorded along the runway.
• Ohm is the SI unit of electrical resistance, transmitting a current of one ampere when subjected to a potential difference of one volt.
• Joule, unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre.
• Ampere is a unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second.

The correct answer is Fog and Smoke.

Key Points

Smog is Fog and smoke.

• Smog is a type of intense air pollution that reduces visibility.
• The term "Smog" was coined in the early 20th century and is derived from the words smoke and fog.
• Smog is a mixture of smoke (composed of minute particles of carbon, ash, and oil, etc. from coal combustion) and fog in suspended droplet form.
• It is the most common kind of air pollution that occurs in cities throughout the world.

Important Points

• There are 2 types of smog: Classical and Photochemical smog.
  • Classical smog (London smog) occurs in a cool and humid climate. It is reducing in nature.
  • Photochemical smog (Los Angeles smog) occurs in a sunny and dry climate. It is oxidizing in nature.
• Smog falls under the category of particulate pollutants since it is composed of very minute particles.
• Long-term exposure to smog can be harmful to human health.

The correct answer is Nitrogen dioxide.

 Key Points Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a toxic gas that can irritate the respiratory system and aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.

• It is one of the major pollutants that contribute to the formation of smog and atmospheric discoloration.
• NO2 is produced mainly by burning fossil fuels, particularly in motor vehicles and power plants.
• It can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form ozone, which is also a respiratory irritant and a major component of smog.

Carbon monoxide

•  is a colorless, odorless gas that is also toxic and can cause respiratory problems,
• but it is not a major contributor to atmospheric discoloration.

Lead

• is a toxic metal that can cause a wide range of health problems,
• but it is not a major contributor to respiratory problems or atmospheric discoloration.

Ozone

•  is a secondary pollutant formed by the reaction of NO2 and other pollutants in the presence of sunlight, and it can cause respiratory problems,
• but it is not the primary cause of atmospheric discoloration

​therefore The correct answer is option 3) Nitrogen dioxide

Additional Information

• nitrogen oxides are also a precursor for a number of harmful secondary air pollutants,
• including nitric acid, the nitrate part of secondary inorganic aerosols, and photo oxidants (including ozone).
• The situation is also complicated by the fact that photochemical reactions take some time (depending on the composition of the atmosphere and meteorological parameters)
• air can travel some distance before secondary pollutants are generated. These relationships are shown schematically in Figure 

Figure  Simplified relationship of nitrogen oxides emissions with the formation of NO2 and other harmful reaction products including O3 and PM

Health risks from nitrogen oxides may potentially result from NO2 itself or its reaction

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has proposed a new set of fines between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1 lakh for those who violate norms restricting noise pollution under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

Unremitting loud construction activity, loudspeakers at functions and processions, honking at odd hours — all contributors to noise pollution and violations under the law — can, thus, burn holes in the pockets of those who violate the norms.

The permissible noise level in India:

The CPCB has laid down the permissible noise levels in India for different areas. Noise pollution rules have defined the acceptable level of noise in different zones for both daytime and night time.

1. In industrial areas, the permissible limit is 75 dB for daytime and 70 dB at night.
2. In commercial areas, it is 65 dB and 55 dB, while in residential areas it is 55 dB and 45 dB during daytime and night respectively.

Therefore, day time noise standard prescribed for residential areas in India is 55 dB.

The correct answer is Glacier.

Key Points

• A glacier is not a water pollutant but it is a source of fresh water.
• The main water pollutants include bacteria, viruses, parasites, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, nitrates, phosphates, plastics, faecal waste, and even radioactive substances.
• These substances do not always change the colour of the water, meaning that they are often invisible pollutants.
• While some metals are essential for human health at trace concentrations due to their role as coenzymes (eg, Fe and Cu), others are toxic at any concentration level (eg, Pb and Cd) Chromium (Cr VI), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) have been recognized as water, pollutants.
• Metals can cause severe toxicity in humans, depending on the concentration, the exposure pathway, and the duration of exposure.

Additional Information

• The high concentrations of arsenic (As) in drinking water in inorganic form cause skin, liver, lungs and other organs damage.
• Cr (VI) is the most toxic form of pollutant present in water, producing liver and kidney damage, internal haemorrhage and respiratory disorders. 
• Silt in water can cause kidney stones and digestive disorders. 

The correct answer is Air Pollution.

Key Points

• Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air.
• It is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air.
• These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, and ultimately falls with rain. 
• Effects:
  • It depletes all nutrients which are required for the growth and survival of plants.
  • It alters the composition of the soil, ultimately reducing the crop yield.
  • It causes respiratory issues in animals and humans.
  • It affects the aquatic ecosystem by altering the chemical composition of the water.
  • It corrodes the buildings and monuments made up of stones and metals.

The correct answer is Diarrhoea.

Key Points

• Water pollution occurs when harmful substances contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean or other body of water, degrading water quality. 
• Common ways of water pollution:
  • Waste disposal directly into water streams,
  • Urban and agricultural runoff,
  • From air via acid rain,
  • Discharge of animal waste etc.
• Water pollution can cause a series of diseases like:
  •  Typhoid, Amoebiasis, Ascariasis, Diarrhea, Encephalitis etc.
• Diarrhoea is caused mostly due to consumption of polluted water and is characterized by loose, watery stools or a frequent need to have a bowel movement.
  • Common bacteria that cause diarrhoea include Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, and Shigella.
  • Parasites that cause diarrhoea include Cryptosporidium enteritis, Entamoeba histolytica etc.
  • Hence, Option 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• Bronchitis is when the tubes that carry air to your lungs, called the bronchial tubes, get inflamed and swollen.
  • Caused mostly due to breathing in air pollution and smoking or breathing in smoke for a long time.
• Conjunctivitis is the inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball.
  • Caused mostly by Viral or bacterial infection, Allergies, Chemical splash in the eye etc.
• Respiratory infection is caused mostly by breathing in polluted air, common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia etc.

Air Quality Index (AQI) is represented in numbers.

Key Points

• The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measure of how polluted the air is. It is a number that ranges from 0 to 500, with 0 being the cleanest air and 500 being the most polluted air.
• The AQI is based on the concentration of pollutants in the air, and it is calculated using a formula that takes into account the different types of pollutants.
• The AQI is a useful tool for understanding how polluted the air is and for making decisions about whether or not to go outside.
• The AQI is also used by government agencies to regulate air pollution.
• The AQI is not represented in units of μg/m3 (microgram per meter cube) or ppm (parts per million). These units are used to measure the concentration of pollutants in the air, but they are not used to calculate the AQI.

Therefore, the answer is numbers.