Pollution and Waste Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pollution and Waste flashcards as text
Which waste management strategy is ranked highest in the EPA's waste management hierarchy?
Answer: Source reduction (prevention)
The EPA's hierarchy prioritizes source reduction first because preventing waste is more effective than managing it after creation.
What is the primary concern with landfill leachate?
Answer: Groundwater contamination
Leachate is liquid that percolates through landfill waste and can carry toxic compounds into groundwater aquifers.
Which persistent organic pollutant was banned in the U.S. after being linked to raptor population crashes?
Answer: DDT
DDT caused eggshell thinning in birds of prey, leading to crashes in bald eagle and peregrine falcon populations before its 1972 ban.
What is the main environmental problem associated with CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)?
Answer: Stratospheric ozone depletion
CFCs release chlorine atoms in the stratosphere that catalytically destroy ozone molecules, thinning the ozone layer.
Which U.S. law regulates the transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste from 'cradle to grave'?
Answer: RCRA
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) establishes a framework for managing hazardous waste throughout its lifecycle.
Thermal pollution of waterways primarily harms aquatic life by:
Answer: Reducing dissolved oxygen levels
Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, stressing or killing fish and other aerobic aquatic organisms.