Soil Pollution Causes and Effects

What is the primary consequence of soil pollution in the context of agriculture?

Soil erosion acceleration
Increased crop yields
Enhanced soil fertility
Insufficient global food supply (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of soil pollution?

Rupture of underground storage tanks
Natural soil erosion (correct)
Excess application of pesticides
Percolation of contaminated water

What is the primary medium through which contaminated industrial waste enters the soil?

Direct discharge into the soil (correct)
Surface runoff
Atmospheric deposition
Groundwater percolation

Which type of soil pollution is caused by human activities in urban areas?

Soil pollution due to urban activities (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the movement of contaminated water through the soil?

Percolation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common chemical involved in soil pollution?

Petroleum hydrocarbons (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of thermal pollution on aquatic species?

Disruption of plant and animal species (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of cooling towers in managing thermal pollution?

To transfer heat from the water to the surrounding atmosphere by evaporation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of cooling towers are used to dissipate heat to the atmosphere?

Wet cooling towers (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of cooling ponds in managing thermal pollution?

To maximize dissipation of heat to the atmosphere (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of aquatic species in terms of temperature tolerance?

They can exist at a wide range of temperatures (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is an alternative to cooling ponds for thermal discharges?

Artificial lakes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)?

They are lipophilic, meaning they mix more easily in oil than water (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of oil pollution in the ocean?

Blowouts at off-shore drilling rigs (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ocean?

Oil, coal, and tar deposits (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of tanker accidents on land?

Oil carried to nearby streams or canals, causing marine pollution (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of marine pollution originating from the land?

Effluents discharged directly into the sea or entering coastal waters through rivers (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a type of toxic substance that can accumulate in the ocean and cause marine pollution?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which pesticide remnants enter human biological systems?

Consumption of contaminated root crops (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for scientists seeking alternatives to pesticides?

The health effects of pesticides on humans and animals (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of some pesticides that makes them particularly problematic?

Low biodegradability (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of urban solid waste?

Majority paper and food waste (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of pesticides on soil fertility?

Decrease soil fertility (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using pheromones and hormones in pest management?

To attract or repel insects (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the water withdrawn from the lake?

Cooling purpose (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the emission of energy from radioactive substances in the environment?

Radioactive pollution (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a natural source of radioactivity?

Nuclear waste (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the greatest exposure to human beings from man-made sources of radioactivity?

Diagnostic use of X-rays (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe unstable isotopes that emit energy?

Radioactive isotopes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary source of radioactivity in the environment?

Natural sources from the Earth's crust (B) Signup and view all the answers