HIC Air Quality Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which instrument is used to measure airborne particulate matter concentrations in a food facility?
- Pitot tube
- Particle counter (Correct answer)
- Manometer
- Anemometer
Correct answer: Particle counter
A particle counter measures the number and size of airborne particles, helping assess contamination risk in food-handling environments.
Question 2: OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for carbon monoxide in the workplace is:
- 9 ppm
- 25 ppm
- 50 ppm (Correct answer)
- 100 ppm
Correct answer: 50 ppm
OSHA sets the 8-hour TWA PEL for carbon monoxide at 50 ppm to protect workers from chronic CO exposure.
Question 3: A health inspector finds humidity above 70% in a food storage area. The PRIMARY concern is:
- Reduced lighting efficiency
- Accelerated mold and microbial growth (Correct answer)
- Increased CO2 levels
- Static electricity buildup
Correct answer: Accelerated mold and microbial growth
Relative humidity above 70% creates conditions favorable for mold, yeast, and bacterial proliferation on surfaces and food products.
Question 4: Which of the following is classified as a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) commonly found in cleaning product residues?
- Carbon dioxide
- Nitrogen
- Formaldehyde (Correct answer)
- Argon
Correct answer: Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a VOC found in some cleaning agents and building materials that can off-gas into indoor air.
Question 5: An inspector notices exhaust ventilation is discharging directly into a food preparation area. This violates which principle?
- Cross-contamination prevention (Correct answer)
- FIFO stock rotation
- Temperature danger zone rules
- Chlorine residual standards
Correct answer: Cross-contamination prevention
Exhaust discharge into prep areas can reintroduce contaminants, grease, and pathogens, violating cross-contamination prevention standards.
Question 6: The term 'makeup air' in HVAC refers to:
- Air filtered to remove odors
- Outdoor air supplied to replace exhausted air (Correct answer)
- Recirculated conditioned air
- Emergency backup air supply
Correct answer: Outdoor air supplied to replace exhausted air
Makeup air is outdoor air introduced into a building to replace the volume exhausted by ventilation systems, maintaining pressure balance.
Question 7: Which federal agency sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?
- OSHA
- CDC
- EPA (Correct answer)
- FDA
Correct answer: EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes and enforces NAAQS for six criteria pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
HIC Air Quality Assessment 2
Which instrument is used to measure airborne particulate matter concentrations in a food facility?