Environmental Science Toxicology and Human Health 2

Question 1

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is primarily associated with:

Accepted Answer

Poor indoor air quality from inadequate ventilation, VOCs, mold, or chemical off-gassing

Answer

SBS describes acute health and comfort effects linked to time spent in a particular building, typically caused by poor ventilation, VOC emissions from building materials, mold, and other indoor air pollutants.

Question 2

Radon gas is a public health concern in homes primarily because:

Accepted Answer

It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that decays to radioactive particles lodged in lungs, causing lung cancer

Answer

Radon (Rn-222) is a decay product of uranium in soil/rock; it seeps into buildings and its short-lived radioactive progeny (polonium isotopes) emit alpha particles when inhaled, damaging lung tissue.

Question 3

The primary health effect associated with long-term exposure to asbestos fibers is:

Accepted Answer

Lung diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer

Answer

Inhaled asbestos fibers lodge permanently in lung tissue; they cause asbestosis (fibrosis), mesothelioma (cancer of the pleural/peritoneal lining), and lung cancer - all with long latency periods (20-50 years).

Question 4

The EPA's risk assessment process for carcinogens typically assumes:

Accepted Answer

A linear no-threshold (LNT) model where any exposure carries some risk proportional to dose

Answer

For genotoxic carcinogens, U.S. EPA typically uses the linear no-threshold (LNT) model, assuming risk is proportional to dose with no completely safe exposure level, to be protective.

Question 5

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are regulated under the Stockholm Convention primarily because they:

Accepted Answer

Resist degradation, bioaccumulate in fatty tissues, travel globally, and cause serious human and ecosystem harm

Answer

POPs (DDT, PCBs, dioxins, furans, PBDEs, PFAS) share four properties: persistence (resist degradation), bioaccumulation (concentrate in fat), long-range transport (deposited globally via atmosphere/ocean), and toxicity.

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Practice Test

Environmental Science Toxicology and Human Health 2