Mixed Deck — All NEHA Topics Flashcards

What is a 'threshold limit value (TLV)' as published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)?

Answer: A recommended guideline for occupational airborne concentrations of chemical substances to which nearly all workers can be repeatedly exposed without adverse effects

ACGIH TLVs are professionally recommended occupational exposure guidelines — not legal standards — representing concentrations to which nearly all workers can be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse health effects.

In environmental health inspections, what practice is most effective for preventing rodent entry into structures?

Answer: Exclusion — sealing all gaps and openings ≥ 1/4 inch in the structure's exterior

Exclusion is the most permanent and effective rodent control strategy, involving the physical sealing of all entry points ≥ 1/4 inch since mice can enter through very small gaps.

Which solid waste management strategy is ranked highest in the EPA's solid waste management hierarchy?

Answer: Source reduction and reuse

Source reduction and reuse are ranked highest in the EPA hierarchy because preventing waste generation is more effective than managing waste after it is created.

Under what conditions can an environmental health official conduct an inspection of a regulated facility without a warrant?

Answer: In administrative searches of pervasively regulated industries when conducted during normal business hours with proper notice

The US Supreme Court has established that administrative inspections of pervasively regulated industries may be conducted without a warrant when performed during business hours in accordance with a regulatory inspection scheme.

What personal protective measure is recommended for preventing tick-borne disease during outdoor activities?

Answer: Applying EPA-registered repellents containing DEET or permethrin and conducting tick checks after outdoor activity

EPA-registered repellents containing DEET applied to skin and permethrin applied to clothing, combined with thorough post-activity tick checks and prompt tick removal, are the recommended personal protection measures.

What is the “Danger Zone” temperature range where bacteria multiply most rapidly in food?

Answer: 40°F - 140°F (4°C - 60°C)

Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40°F and 140°F, increasing the risk of foodborne illness if food is left in this temperature range for too long.

Which gas is the primary component of landfill gas generated by decomposing organic waste?

Answer: Methane

Methane (CH4) is typically the predominant component of landfill gas, comprising approximately 50% of total gas generated by anaerobic decomposition.

Which federal program requires landlords and sellers to disclose known lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 housing before sale or lease?

Answer: Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X)

Title X of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act mandates disclosure of known lead-based paint and hazards in pre-1978 housing transactions.

What is 'ultra-low volume (ULV)' spraying used for in adult mosquito control programs?

Answer: Dispersing very small droplets of pesticide at low application rates to contact flying adult mosquitoes

ULV spraying disperses extremely fine pesticide droplets (typically 1–50 microns) at very low volume rates so they remain airborne long enough to contact and kill flying adult mosquitoes.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, what does OSHA's 'General Duty Clause' require of employers?

Answer: Employers must furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm

OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires all employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to workers.

What is the 'variance' process in environmental health regulation?

Answer: A formal exemption allowing a regulated entity to deviate from a specific regulatory requirement

A variance is a formal regulatory mechanism allowing a regulated entity to deviate from a specific standard or requirement, typically granted when strict compliance would create undue hardship and an alternative provides equivalent protection.

What does the AQI (Air Quality Index) measure?

Answer: The concentration of various pollutants in the air

The AQI provides a standardized way to communicate the quality of air based on concentrations of pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide.

Which disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) in the northeastern United States?

Answer: Lyme disease

Ixodes scapularis, commonly called the deer tick or black-legged tick, is the primary vector of Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi in the northeastern US.

What is the 'right-to-know' concept embodied in EPCRA (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act)?

Answer: The right of communities to obtain information about hazardous chemicals stored or released by nearby facilities

EPCRA gives communities the right to obtain information about hazardous chemicals present at nearby facilities and to be informed of toxic chemical releases through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program.

What does 'IDLH' (Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health) represent in hazardous materials management?

Answer: The maximum airborne concentration from which a worker could escape without irreversible health effects or death within 30 minutes

IDLH represents the maximum atmospheric concentration of a hazardous substance from which a worker could escape within 30 minutes without suffering irreversible health effects or impaired escape capability.

What is the primary health concern from exposure to asbestos?

Answer: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis from inhalation of fibers

Inhalation of asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma (cancer of the pleural lining), lung cancer, and asbestosis (progressive lung scarring), often with a latency period of decades between exposure and disease.

According to the International Property Maintenance Code, what minimum ceiling height is required for habitable rooms?

Answer: 7 feet (2134 mm)

The International Property Maintenance Code requires habitable rooms to have a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet (2134 mm) for at least 50% of the floor area.

What is the primary purpose of a wastewater treatment plant?

Answer: To remove contaminants from wastewater before discharge

Wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove contaminants from wastewater to protect public health and the environment before releasing it into water bodies.

What is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for lead in drinking water according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

Answer: 0.015 mg/L

The EPA's MCL for lead in drinking water is 0.015 mg/L (15 parts per billion) to protect against the harmful effects of lead exposure.

Which of the following is a common indoor air pollutant that can cause respiratory issues?

Answer: Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate indoors from faulty heating systems or combustion appliances, causing respiratory problems and other health issues.