Albert questions

In the United States, 200 million tons of waste gets dumped into landfills every year ( 1 ton = 2,000 lb ). If 35 % of that waste were composted instead, how many pounds of waste would enter landfills annually?

1.3 x 10^11 lb

All of the following things happen in a waste-to-energy incinerator EXCEPT

UV light or chlorine gas being used as a disinfectant.

A growing portion of the world's waste is electronic waste or e-waste. This type of waste contains hazardous chemicals, such as mercury and lead, which can leach out of landfills if not disposed of properly. 45 million tons of e-waste was disposed of in 2018. In 2019, 50 million tons of e-waste was disposed of. E-waste has been growing at a steady rate annually.

What is the rate of growth of e-waste production in that time span?

11.1%

A county with 180,000 people generates roughly 150,000 tons of municipal solid waste per year (MSW). The current landfill is full and engineers estimate a tipping fee of $30 per ton of MSW for a new landfill and a tipping fee of $80 per ton of MSW for a new incinerator.

How much extra money would the county spend over the next 20 years if they incinerated 60% of waste and disposed of the remaining 40% in a landfill as opposed to 100% in the landfill?

$90 Million

Which of the following BEST identifies an ecological advantage in the waste generation trends shown in the graph?

Steep increases have occurred in recycling, and more recycled products have been brought to market; this trend decreases resource extraction.

Electronic waste is a growing issue globally, due to the increase in technology products used in everyday lives and in all industries. Managing e-waste requires solving not only the number of items moving into landfills at the end of the life of a product but also mitigating associated health and ecological risks.

Which of the following is NOT a negative health effect resulting from the increase in e-waste?

Many technology companies are increasing recycling programs and recycled material sourcing in products.

The table below includes the results of a study on the success of revegetating, or replanting over a closed landfill, in order to turn it back into a viable habitat for species. Researchers tracked a variety of plant species over time to see their growth. For each of the species in the table, there is a measurement of the effectiveness of germinating as a percent of the total planted (referred to as "Coverage"). This measurement is followed by a count of their success in later growth at the seedling stage. Based on this data, what is an appropriate claim that can be made about the feasibility of revegetating landfills?

Revegetation needs a mixture of plants as some are more successful in earlier stages of growth and others in later stages.

Using the dose-response curve, which of the following calculations would be the BEST approach for determining the dose of rodenticide in mg per rat?

15 mg ×0.3 kg

1 kg.

The LD50 of bleach inhaled by rats is 850 mg/kg.

To determine the safe level of bleach inhaled by humans, one would divide the LD50 by which of the following?

1,000

Which of the following is TRUE about LD50?

The lower the LD50, the more toxic a substance is.

The table below displays the LD50 of various substances on an experimental population of rats.

Substance Dosage

Aspartame 10,000 mg/kg

Asprin 200 mg/kg

Caffeine 192 mg/kg

Ibuprofen 636 mg/kg

Of the substances provided, caffeine is the most toxic to rats because the dosage is the lowest.

A sample with 100 mg of a pesticide, with a LD50 of 10 mg/kg is administered to a group of laboratory test animals with body weights of 10 kg each.

Which of the following is the MOST likely result?

50% of the test subjects will die if exposed to the pesticide.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used to manufacture plastics and is found in the epoxy used to line food cans. BPA mimics estrogen and is suspected of producing toxic effects on various systems in humans and animals. The LD50 for BPA in animals is 35.26 mg/kg body weight. At doses of 40 mg/kg body weight, the animals died within 7-8 minutes. BPA is found in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, as well as in sediments and soils.

What is the LD50 dose for a population of animals with an average weight of 5.5 kilograms?

0.2 grams

Vitamin D3 is a common dietary supplement that, like any substance, should be taken only according to instructions. When an excessive amount of vitamin D3 is consumed, it can lead to negative health impacts like hypercalcemia, or too much calcium in blood.

The LD50 for vitamin D3 is 37 mg/kg. Two adults are taking this supplement regularly- a woman who weighs 80 kg and a man who weighs 91 kg.

How much more vitamin D3 can the man take before this substance is considered to be toxic at the LD50 threshold?

407 mg

A lab was studying the impacts of consuming capsaicin, a chemical found in spicy peppers, on rats. The LD50 for capsaicin in rats is 47.2 mg/kg. If a rat with a mass of 358 g ate a 14 mg dose of capsaicin, would it survive the testing?

Yes, because the dosage is below the maximum of 16.9 mg for this mass.

A student is conducting an experiment on the toxicity of glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, on potato plants. Their goal is to determine the LD50 of this chemical, in order to understand whether agricultural products can backfire when applied at a certain amount.

The student set up several different evenly-sized test plots and planted the same number of one species of potatoes in each plot. Fertilizer was added to all of the soil, and the plants were watered consistently, in order to ensure that these were not variables that interfered with the results. Differing amounts of the glyphosate treatment were added to each plot and the student observed the impacts on the potato population over time.

What is the independent variable in this student's experiment?

The amount of glyphosate

A student is conducting an experiment on the toxicity of glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide, on potato plants. Their goal is to determine the LD50 of this chemical, in order to understand whether agricultural products can backfire when applied at a certain amount.

The student set up several different evenly-sized test plots and planted the same number of one species of potatoes in each plot. Fertilizer was added to all of the soil, and the plants were watered consistently, in order to ensure that these were not variables that interfered with the results. Differing amounts of the glyphosate treatment were added to each plot and the student observed the impacts on the potato population over time.

According to the principle of LD50, what is the student looking for in the dependent variable to determine this value?

The student is looking to see the dose which kills 50% of the potato population

One popular attraction in Austin, Texas is a spring-fed swimming area called Barton Springs Pool. The pool is fed by the Barton Spring which is fed by the Edwards Aquifer. Since the 1980s, the pool is occasionally closed due to high bacteria levels.

Which is the BEST explanation for the source of bacterial contamination?

A housing development with septic systems was built in the Barton Creek watershed.

The following words and phrases are all examples of environmental hazards. Select the one answer choice that BEST matches the example to its hazard type. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set.

Giardia lamblia

Biological.

The graphs above indicates waterborne diseases in the United States. Some of these illnesses were caused by "unidentified" agents.

What percent were known to have been caused by biological agents?

76.9%

The following words and phrases are all examples of environmental hazards. Select the one answer choice that BEST matches the example to its hazard type. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set.

A tsunami

Physical.

Zoonotic diseases are caused by infections shared between animals and people. Zoonotic diseases are predicted to increase in the coming decades.

Which of the following is the BEST explanation for this prediction?

Since most of the world's population growth occurs in developing countries, the need for increased livestock farming will also increase in these countries. An increase in people and livestock in a developing countries that lack the infrastructure and resources to combat diseases will result in an increase of zoonotic diseases.

Cholera outbreaks can be attributed to which of the following?

Human waste in drinking water

All of the following are considered biological hazards EXCEPT

minamata disease.

The following words and phrases are all examples of environmental hazards. Select the one answer choice that BEST matches the example to its hazard type. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)

Chemical.

All of the following are examples of a biological hazards EXCEPT

smoking cigarettes.

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, people were left without homes and proper sanitation.

Which infectious disease sweeps through overcrowded refugee camps that have poor sanitation?

Cholera.

Which of the following is produced solely from the ancient remains of photosynthetic organisms?

Coal

Which of the following sources of energy transforms kinetic energy to electricity without using heat energy?

Wind

Which of the following might eventually become petroleum?

Plankton.

Which of the following explains the appropriate order for coal formation?

Peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous, and anthracite.

Which of the following coal types is the MOST valuable?

Anthracite

Which of the following is NOT an argument that would promote the production of synfuels?

Synfuels will allow for the conservation of water that would be polluted during the extraction of natural gas or coal.

The order of types of coal from HIGHEST energy content to LOWEST energy content per gram is

anthracite, bituminous, lignite, peat.

Natural gas is often found in association with which of the following substances?

All of the above.

Refer to the map and select the one lettered choice that best answers each question or best fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all in the question set.

B

Approximately, how much of the United States' electricity is projected to be produced from fossil fuels in 2035?

3.3 trillion kilowatthours

Which of the following exemplifies the first priority of integrated waste management?

Not purchasing products with excessive packaging.

Which of the following is the largest component of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States by weight?

Paper

Integrated waste management is a system of steps devised to make the best use of disposed solid waste items. The goal is to take as much permanent waste out of the waste stream as possible.

Which of the following steps of integrated waste management should be carried out LAST?

Burying non-hazardous material in a sanitary landfill.

Based on the graph, which of the following statements is NOT true?

The volume of incineration byproducts sent to landfills has significantly decreased.

Which of the following is CORRECT about pollution prevention methods as shown in the landfill diagram?

Ground water monitoring is necessary to ensure that liquid byproducts of decomposition do not reach aquifers.

Which of the following BEST describes material that can be considered harmful to human health or the environment, if not properly disposed of?

Hazardous waste.

Which of the following would NOT be considered a household hazardous waste?

Alkaline batteries.

What conclusion can be drawn from this map?

Superfund sites are most commonly located near large cities because industry is most commonly located there, and CERCLA regulates the cleanup of industrial wastes.

Which of the following statements about waste generation is NOT correct?

The majority of MSW is plastic.

Love Canal, New York, began as a vision of a modern city fueled by hydropower from a canal dug from the Niagara river. The project was halted and the partially dug canal became a toxic waste disposal site.

In 1953, the waste was covered with topsoil and the site was sold the city of Love Canal. A neighborhood and school were subsequently built on the property. Over the next 25 years, construction and flooding exposed decaying metal drums full of leaching toxic waste.

Which of the following consequences was a result of the Love Canal disaster?

Benzene exposure led to high white blood cell counts which are precursors to leukemia.

Which of the following environmental problems can result from the generation of electricity from fossil fuels?

Thermal pollution.

An older, poorly insulated home in the United States is in a moderate climate and is roughly 3,000 ft2. This home requires 50 BTU/ 1 ft2 hour of power for heating during the winter. One cubic foot of natural gas provides about 1,000 BTUs of energy.

150 ft3 natural gas

hour

Hydraulic fracturing is used mainly to extract

unconventional natural gas.

Based on the information in the map, which country has proven oil reserves above 100 billion barrels due to the tar sands located within it?

Canada.

In a coal-fired electrical generating plant, coal is burned to heat water, which creates steam.

The next step in this process is which of the following?

The steam is used to turn a turbine.

Which of the following statements represents the MOST common use of fossil fuels for the generation of electricity in the United States?

The combustion of natural gas to heat H2O to produce steam to turn the turbine to generate electricity.

When a coiled metal wire is spun rapidly in a magnetic field, electrons become excited and electricity is produced.

This component in electricity production is called

the generator.

The combustion of which of the following fossil fuels will have the LOWEST impact on global climate change?

Natural gas.

In a state that is heavily dependent on coal power plants, the generation of 1 MBTU of energy produces about 2,000 lb CO2. The average for the United States is 1,150 lb CO2 per MBTU. The lighting in a typical classroom uses about 40 30 W fluorescent light bulbs where 3,412 BTU=1 kWh.

(2,000 lb CO2MBTU−1,150 lb CO2MBTU)×1 MBTU1,000,000 BTU×3,412 BTUkWh×40 bulbs×30 Wbulb×1 kW1,000 W×8 h

The environmental disadvantages associated with natural gas include all of the following EXCEPT

Trace metals released during combustion.

Which of the following biomes would have the highest albedo?

Arctic tundra.

Which conclusion can be drawn from the maps?

Tropospheric warming is affecting the northern hemisphere more than the southern.

The climate of most of eastern North America is thought to be moderated by which warm current of the North Atlantic Gyre?

Gulf Stream

What is the main driver of atmospheric circulation?

Earth's rotation and uneven surface heating.

All of the following statements incorrectly interpret the Arctic sea ice data EXCEPT

the volume of Arctic sea ice has decreased over the past 35 years.

​Thermohaline circulation is a part of the large-scale ocean circulation that impacts global climate. Which of the following is TRUE of thermohaline circulation?

Deepwater formation happens because the water becomes saltier as sea ice forms.

Climate change can impact ecosystems in which of the following ways?

I) Disrupting the timing of seasonal life-cycle traits
II) Shifting of habitat ranges
III) Disruptions in food web
IV) Could support the spread of disease, pathogens and parasites

I, II, III, IV

Which of the following impacts sea level rise the MOST?

Thermal expansion of sea water.

Global warming is reducing the area of the Earth's surface covered with snow and glaciers.

Which statement BEST describes the impact of this reduction?

Earth's albedo will decrease and the rate of climate change will increase.

Which of the following answer combinations BEST completes the sentence below?

Volcanic eruptions lead to _____________ average global temperatures because ________________.

cooler; eruption-generated gasses reflect heat from the sun

According to the graph, which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding changes in the United States from 1980 to 2013?

The change in the gross domestic product indicates that the restrictions on air pollution have had a negative impact on the economy.

What greenhouse gas is released by livestock?

Methane.

What is true of the Kyoto Protocol?

It set a goal for all participants to reduce their greenhouse gas emission below their 1990 level.

The graph below illustrates water's volume at different temperatures. Which of the following describes how the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere affects coastal ecosystems?

More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere create a positive feedback loop, warming the oceans. The warmer the ocean gets, the more volume the water will take up, potentially flooding coastal freshwater with saltwater and displacing coastal communities.

Which of the following statements about climate change is FALSE?

Coral bleaching occurs because of the warming of the world's oceans. This bleaching causes ocean acidification and the lowered pH causes accelerated temperature rise.

Which of the following is likely a social challenge that a small tropical island nation would face as a result of the environmental problem of increased greenhouse gasses?

The need to relocate displaced families as flooding due to extreme storms or sea level rise increases.

The map below shows the range of Culex quinquefasciatus, a mosquito known as a carrier of the West Nile virus. The blue areas on the map show the current range, and the red demonstrates where the future range is predicted to be according to modeled changes in climate. According to the map, which of the following would be an appropriate claim regarding the spread of vector-borne disease as climate changes?

Vector-borne diseases will expand their range and move further toward the poles.

The graph below shows the past, current, and projected levels of different categories of greenhouse gases. Using this data, which of the following is expected to have the greatest percent change in emissions by 2050 since 2015 levels?

F-GHGs (fluorinated GHGs)

The graph below shows several different countries around the world and their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions over time. Which of the following best describes the relationship between economic status and carbon emissions seen in this data?

More economically developed countries contribute more carbon dioxide than their counterparts.

The graph below demonstrates the different types of power generation in the United States and the correlation of this data to greenhouse gas emissions levels. Using this data, which of the following best describes the relationship between power generation and emissions?

A decrease in coal and petroleum generation has led to a slight decrease in overall emissions.

A scientist has a radioactive isotope that has a half life of 50 years.

Approximately what percent of the original sample will remain after 250 years?

3%

Which is NOT true of low-level radioactive waste?

It needs to be buried deep underground to be safe for humans.

The picture is of a nuclear power plant.

What is being emitted into the air?

Steam

Which of the following are ONLY found in nuclear power plants?

Control rods, fuel rods, and containment structure.

Which type of fuel is used for nuclear fission reactions and how is it obtained?

Uranium-235 is used and is mined and separated from ore.

Which country gets the highest percentage of its energy from nuclear power?

France.

Which of the following is a catastrophic problem that can occur in a power plant if a cooling system fails and the nuclear fuel generates too much heat?

Partial reactor core meltdown.

Which of the following are considered high-level radioactive waste?

The waste produced in nuclear reactors only.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement about nuclear reactors and atomic bombs?

Both nuclear reactors and atomic bombs contain enriched uranium.

The half-life of Uranium-235 is 700 million years.

How long will it take for 75% of the isotope to decay?

1.4 billion years

Greenhouse gases include all of the following EXCEPT

perchlorates.

Which of the following accurately describes the greenhouse effect?

A portion of infrared radiation (heat) is radiated back to Earth by certain gases in the atmosphere.

Select the one answer choice that BEST answers each question or best fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set. The following phrase refers to greenhouse gas contributors.

A byproduct​ of animal husbandry

CH4

Which area of the globe contains the most water vapor in May 2009 according to this image?

0 degree latitude; the equator.

In order to keep our average temperature from topping 2 degrees celsius higher than normal, we can only release 565 Gigatons of CO2. We currently release about 3.1×1010 tons a year.

How many years from now will we reach the 565 maximum, if we do not change our rate of release?

18

Which of the following contributes to Earth's greenhouse effect the MOST?

Water vapor.

Which of the following could NOT be considered a greenhouse gas?

Trophspheric nitrogen.

Select the one answer choice that BEST fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set. The following phrase refers to greenhouse gases.

Naturally produced from termites.

CH4

Select the one answer choice that BEST fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set. The following phrase refers to greenhouse gasses.

Byproduct of landfills.

CH4

Select the one answer choice that BEST fits each statement. A choice may be used once, more than once, or not at all within the question set. The following phrase refers to greenhouse gases.

Net atmospheric increase by deforestation.

CO2