Effects of Water Pollution Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the potential dangers of drinking polluted water?

Exposure to hazardous chemicals and consumption of disease-causing organisms (correct)
Increased hydration and improved immune system
Decreased risk of gastrointestinal illnesses
Enhanced mental clarity and reduced risk of chronic diseases

How does consuming fish from polluted water affect people?

Fish consumption reduces the risk of waterborne illnesses
The fish may contain too many pollutants, posing health risks (correct)
The fish are safe to eat with no health risks
Eating fish improves overall health and immunity

What is a natural source of water pollution mentioned in the text?

Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants
Industrial waste from factories
Oil and natural gas leaking into oceans and lakes from underground sources (correct)
Pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff

Where does marine pollution come from, according to the text?

Land-based sources and activities, shipping, dumping, seabed activities, and atmospheric sources (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when oil reaches the sea surface from natural seepage?

It accumulates and spreads on the surface, forming slicks visible from space (D) Signup and view all the answers

What are oil and gas seeps?

Springs of liquid and gaseous hydrogen-carbon compounds (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the lighter components of oil that leak to the Earth's surface?

They evaporate and are lost (C) Signup and view all the answers

Where do natural oil seeps occur?

Both onshore and offshore (C) Signup and view all the answers

How much oil do natural seeps contribute to the marine environment according to the National Research Council (NRC) study?

46% of the annual load to the world's oceans (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is runoff in the context of water pollution?

The movement of water across the soil surface (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern associated with drinking polluted water?

Exposure to hazardous chemicals that may make them sick years later (D) Signup and view all the answers

How do some people get sick indirectly from polluted water?

Indirect harm due to consuming fish with too many pollutants in their flesh (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a natural source of water pollution mentioned in the text?

Oil and natural gas seeping into oceans from natural underground sources (A) Signup and view all the answers

Where can the world’s largest petroleum seep be found?

Off the coast of the U.S. state of California (C) Signup and view all the answers

What happens when natural oil seeps reach the sea surface?

Gas escapes into the atmosphere and oil accumulates and spreads on the surface forming slicks visible from space (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the fate of oil that leaks to the Earth's surface from natural seeps?

The lighter components are lost to evaporation, and the remaining heavier oil is oxidized and degraded by bacteria (C) Signup and view all the answers

Where do natural oil seeps occur?

Both onshore (on land) and offshore (on the sea floor) (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main source of natural seepage from oil according to the National Research Council (NRC) study?

46% of the annual load to the world's oceans (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is runoff in the context of water pollution?

The movement of water and any contaminants across the soil surface (C) Signup and view all the answers

How are oil and gas seeps different from freshwater springs?

Oil and gas seeps are fed by natural underground accumulations of oil, while freshwater springs are not fed by underground pools of water (A) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Water pollution can make water unsafe for drinking and swimming, with potential long-term health effects for those who consume it.
Polluted water can also contain harmful bacteria and organisms that cause disease.
Indirect harm can occur when people consume fish from polluted water, as they may contain high levels of pollutants.
Natural sources of water pollution include oil and natural gas seeps, with the largest known seep being the Coal Oil Point Seep in California.
Oil and gas seeps are natural springs where hydrocarbons leak out of eroding sedimentary rock or the ocean seabed.
They are used to identify potential petroleum reserves and contribute significantly to marine pollution, accounting for 46% of the annual load to the world's oceans.
Oil from offshore seeps initially floats on the water surface and can take on different appearances depending on its amount, composition, and degree of weathering.
Natural oil seeps occur both onshore and offshore, in areas around eroded sedimentary basins or faults between plates of the Earth's crust.
Human activity, including the disposal of chemicals and oils from factories, also contributes to water pollution through runoff.
Runoff occurs when water and contaminants move across the soil surface faster than it can absorb them, leading to pollution in waterways.