REHS EXAM 2025

Self-imposed health risk factors include

Choose one answer.

a. exposure to sunlight

b. diet

c. smoking

d. all the above

all the above

Legal proceedings to enforce a law

may include

Choose one answer.

a. issuance of an order to eliminate a

violation

b. suspension of a permit

c. civil sanctions

d. all of the above

all of the above

In an environmental control statistical

report for program, the "total man-days

expended" will

Choose one answer.

a. include the total number of premises

or initial services in each program

activity for which the local health unit is

responsible

b. refer to the number of premises

where an annual, routine, or special

inspection was made for the first time

during the year

c. show the type and amount of

manpower allocated to each of the

program activities

d. none of the above

show the type and amount of manpower allocated to each of the program activities

Which type of inspection would be

conducted prior to legal action?

Choose one answer.

a. reinspection

b. routine

c. complete

d. initial

reinspection

In order to perform an evaluation, the

data collected must be reliable. Which

of the following is not a definitive

characteristic of reliability?

Choose one answer.

a. consistent

b. easy to obtain

c. reproducible

d. dependable

easy to obtain

The changing role of environmental

health scientists, including their duties

of administrating services to the public,

has been brought about largely due to

Choose one answer.

a. adequate intelligence data on

environmental trends showing the

urgency for action

b. stricter governmental control

c. public recognition of the problems

and the desire for higher quality of life

d. none of the above

public recognition of the problems and the desire for higher quality of life

Standards must be scientifically

supported, understandable,

measurable and

Choose one answer.

a. traditional

b. acceptable to all parties involved

c. enforceable

d. rigid

enforceable

The terms "goals" and "objectives" are

sometimes used interchangeably;

however, objectives should be

considered as

Choose one answer.

a. a general direction

b. the final purpose or aim

c. the idea which is always realized

d. the realistically attainable ends

the realistically attainable ends

An action authorized by law to restrict

or prevent the movement of goods for

the protection of public health, safety

and welfare is called

Choose one answer.

a. an injunction

b. an embargo

c. an order to cease and desist

d. a subpoena

an embargo

Field observations are not always

reported in total because

Choose one answer.

a. the reported forms are usually

inadequate

b. the significance of the data is not

understood

c. the field staff are instructed to limit

observations

d. the supervisor may insist on

reinspection

the significance of the data is not understood

In preparing a legal action, one of the

first steps a sanitarian should do is to

Choose one answer.

a. obtain a warrant

b. obtain a court order

c. keep very accurate records

d. check with other agencies

keep very accurate records.

Which of the following statements is

true regarding an inspection efficiency

rating?

Choose one answer.

a. the average amount of time required

for each inspection must be

determined by the administrator of the

sanitation program

b. the quality of the inspections should

be emphasized over quantity

c. the numerical rating obtained per

year is less important as the relative

change from year to year

d. it is not possible to receive a rating

over 100 percent

the numerical rating obtained per year is less important as the relative change from year to year

When a health violation is classified as

a misdemeanor, it can be more readily

resolved by ______.

Choose one answer.

a. criminal proceedings

b. civil action

c. immediately closing the facility

d. posting a public notice

civil action.

Which of the following is the most

critical step needed before detailed

information is collected?

Choose one answer.

a. determining how the information will

be used

b. determining how often the

information will be updated

c. determining how much time will be

needed for data collection

d. determining how much time will be

needed for the record-processing unit

to enter the data

determining how the information will be used

Which of the following is the most

effective technique for ceasing

operation of a noncomplying

establishment?

Choose one answer.

a. a mandatory injunction

b. revoking a license

c. an injunction

d. all of the above

all of the above

An administrative process of measuring

and analyzing results in relation to

specific goals, objectives, aims or

targets is

Choose one answer.

a. record keeping

b. daily activity reports

c. coding

d. evaluation

evaluation

On-the-job education should start with

planned, routine, intensive in-service

training of

Choose one answer.

a. division directors

b. owners of food service facilities

c. all field and office personnel

d. septic tank contractors

all field and office personnel

All of the following describe objectives

used in environmental quality planning

except

Choose one answer.

a. non-measurable

b. realistically obtainable

c. obtainable in a specified time period

d. specifically measurable

non-measurable

Letter and report writing are effective

means of acquainting ______ with the

diversity and complexity of a facility's

problems.

Choose one answer.

a. local officials

b. establishment owners

c. the general public

d. lawmakers

establishment owners

The agencies general administrative

plan provides the basis for

Choose one answer.

a. a search warrant

b. an administrative warrant

c. a seizure

d. none of the above

an administrative warrant

Inspections of nonpublic areas can be

made by consent of the owner or

occupant and

Choose one answer.

a. on the basis of a general

administrative plan

b. whenever premises are vacant

c. whenever premises are unlocked

d. without regard to requests or

demands that inspectors leave the

premises

on the basis of a general administrative plan

The statement of goals and objectives

should recognize environmental quality

and community needs such as

Choose one answer.

a. clean air

b. clean food service establishments

c. decent housing

d. all the above

all the above

A standard for dishwashing that states

that the "total bacteria count should

not exceed one hundred per utensil

surface," is an example of what type of

objective?

Choose one answer.

a. enforceable

b. specification

c. compliance

d. performance

performance

A well developed ______ activity report

can serve practically all the reporting

needs of an organization for statistical

purposes.

Choose one answer.

a. daily

b. weekly

c. monthly

d. yearly

daily

To have a successful environmental

control service, the retention of

competent personnel is a primary

concern. Which of the following is (are)

required to retain competent

personnel?

Choose one answer.

a. adequate salaries

b. pleasant, stimulating working conditions

c. a dynamic and challenging program

d. all of the above

all of the above

The number of inspections divided by

the number of workdays should equal

which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. average number of inspections per workday

b. average number of hours per inspection

c. average number of city inspections per workday

d. average number of county inspections per workday

average number of inspections per workday

Since competent direction is essential

to a divisional program's effectiveness,

it is important to offer

Choose one answer.

a. bonus salaries

b. marginal salaries

c. a structured, incremental pay plan

d. none of the above

none of the above

From a legal standpoint, which of the

following is true regarding

enforcement of standards?

Choose one answer.

a. a Federal standard is easier to enforce than a State standard

b. a State standard is easier to enforce than a Federal standard

c. a performance standard is easier to enforce than a specification-type standard

d. a specification-type standard is easier to enforce than a performance standard

a specification-type standard is easier to enforce than a performance standard

The effectiveness of an inspection

program depends on technical

competence and the ______ of regulatory

staff.

Choose one answer.

a. academic degrees

b. physical qualifications

c. genealogy

d. attitude

attitude

A program plan should be developed

for each of the program activities. This

plan should list which of the following

criteria for each activity?

Choose one answer.

a. work load and methods to meet

program objectives and financing

b. resource requirements, goals and

objectives

c. need for the program, evaluation,

and law

d. all the above

all the above

Marks: 1

The precise levels at which specific air

pollutants become a health hazard are

relatively easy to establish by existing

surveillance systems.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

Particulates larger than 10 microns can

penetrate easily into the respiratory

tract.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

It is possible to control noise

Choose one answer.

a. at the source

b. in its path of transmission

c. where it is received

d. all of the above

all of the above

Fluorocarbons in the atmosphere are

of concern because they may

Choose one answer.

a. react with the ozone in the upper

atmosphere, thus reducing the total

amount of ozone available

b. cause an increase in ultraviolet

radiation reaching the earth

c. cause an increase in skin cancers and

changes in our climate, animal, and

plant life

d. all of the above

all of the above

The terms "washout" and "rainout" both

refer to a cleansing process of

pollutants in the atmosphere.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

A ______ is a dimensionless unit to

express physical intensity or sound

pressure levels.

Choose one answer.

a. noise level

b. decibel

c. hertz

d. sound pressure level (SPL)

decibel

The frequency of a sound determines

its pitch.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

When two pollutants are combined, the

effects are greater than the sum of the

individual effects. This is called

Choose one answer.

a. commensalism

b. synergism

c. magnification

d. multiplication

synergism

Scrubbers are wet collectors generally

used to remove particles that form as a

Choose one answer.

a. nonsoluable vapor

b. mist, solid, or vapor

c. fog, mist, or dust

d. fume, dust, or mist

fog, mist, or dust

Precipitation accomplishes an effective

cleansing process of pollutants in the

atmosphere by

Choose one answer.

a. accumulation of small particles in the

formation of raindrops or snowflakes in

clouds

b. the washing out of scavenging of

large particles by falling raindrops or

snowflakes

c. removal of gaseous pollutants by

dissolution and absorption

d. all of the above

all of the above

A deterioration in the ozone layer of

the stratosphere can cause an increase

in ultraviolet radiation reaching the

earth.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

The unit of measurement most

commonly used to measure loudness is

called

Choose one answer.

a. hertz

b. phon

c. decibel

d. none of the above

phon

Sound absorbing materials absorb low

frequency sounds much more

effectively than high frequency sounds.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

Air pollution control should first be

considered at the

Choose one answer.

a. source

b. stack

c. industrial level

d. suburban level

source

If 10 decibels is 10 times more intense

than one decibel, how many times

more intense is 20 decibels than one

decibel?

Choose one answer.

a. 20

b. 30

c. 100

d. 1000

100

The Montreal Protocol categorizes

______ and ______ in two classes based on

their ozone-depiction potential.

Choose one answer.

a. CO2 and PAN

b. CFCs and halons

c. Ozone depleting greenhouse

chemicals

d. SO2 and CO

CO2 and PAN

Glazing, silvering, or bronzing on the

underside of a leaf is evidence that

injury has occurred by

Choose one answer.

a. ozone

b. peroxyacyl nitrates

c. sulfur dioxide

d. hydrogen fluoride

peroxyacyl nitrates

The meteorological elements that have

the most direct and significant effects

on the distribution of air pollutants are

Choose one answer.

a. solar radiation

b. wind speed and direction

c. precipitation and stability

d. all of the above

all of the above

Turbulence is the wind characteristic

that is

Choose one answer.

a. most predictable

b. the most effective mechanism for the dispersion or dilution of a cloud or plume of pollutants

c. responsible for generating cyclonic pollutants

d. responsible for the agitation of otherwise harmless ions

the most effective mechanism for the dispersion or dilution of a cloud or plume of pollutants

Some specific measures that can be

used to reduce the effect of highway

noise include

Choose one answer.

a. setting lower speed limits for certain

sections of a highway

b. establishing alternate truck routes

c. enclosure of highways going through

residential areas

d. all of the above

all of the above

For a pure tone (single frequency) to

be produced, there must be a one-toone

correspondence between

Choose one answer.

a. loudness and intensity

b. frequency and intensity

c. pitch and loudness

d. pressure and pitch

loudness and intensity

______ have been known to cause

crippling skeletal damage to cattle

through ingested contaminated

vegetation.

Choose one answer.

a. sulfides

b. fluorides

c. nitrates

d. chlorides

fluorides

Air is vital to existence. In fact, humans

breathe in a day's time an average of

Choose one answer.

a. 3 to 4 pounds of air

b. 35 pounds of air

c. 37 pounds of air

d. 1,600 ft3 of air

35 pounds of air

Stability of the atmosphere

Choose one answer.

a. is the ability to enhance or suppress

vertical air motions

b. is largely determined by the vertical

temperature profile

c. refers to the inertness of its

composition

d. a and b above

a and b above

In what part of the earth's atmosphere

are photochemical oxidants produced?

Choose one answer.

a. lithosphere

b. stratosphere

c. troposphere

d. hydrosphere

troposphere

Sources of pollutants can generally be

classified as

Choose one answer.

a. line sources

b. area sources

c. point sources

d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following items are not

natural topographic features?

Choose one answer.

a. rivers

b. canals

c. foliages

d. hills

canals

A particle count of above ______ is said

to be representative of an urban area

Choose one answer.

a. 10,000

b. 50,000

c. 100,000

d. 200,000

50,000

Street dust would be considered what

type of pollution?

Choose one answer.

a. paradox pollutant

b. fugitive pollutant

c. uncontrolled pollutant

d. laps rate

fugitive pollutant

Ozone can be formed by the action of

sunlight on nitrogen oxides and

hydrocarbons.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

What type of air pollution causes

bleaching of leaves in plants?

Choose one answer.

a. PAN

b. sulfur dioxide

c. industries processing hazardous

wastes

d. high motor vehicle traffic

sulfur dioxide

______ can be formed as a result of the

sun's action on nitrogen oxides and

hydrocarbons

Choose one answer.

a. sulfur dioxide

b. hydrogen sulfide

c. chlorofluorocarbons

d. ozone

ozone

The ratio of the energy passing through

a wall, floor, or ceiling to the energy

striking it is called

Choose one answer.

a. sound absorption

b. sound transmission loss

c. noise reduction

d. all of the above

sound transmission loss

Long-term wind data of a given

location are presented graphically in

the form of a

Choose one answer.

a. wind rose

b. wind table

c. wind tree

d. wind iris

wind rose

Transportation is the largest source of

air pollution.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

The amount of sound energy a material

can absorb is a function of its

absorption coefficient at a specified

frequency.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

Which of the following types of

materials are known to reflect sound?

Choose one answer.

a. rubber tiles

b. heavy drapes

c. carpets with felt pads

d. rugs

rubber tiles

Continuous exposure to high-level

noise is less harmful than intermittent

or occasional exposure.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

Dry cotton ear plugs are just as

effective against noise control as

expensive fitted ear plugs and

earmuffs.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

The accumulation or increased

concentration of a continuously

emitted pollutant is

Choose one answer.

a. referred to as episodic filtration

b. referred to as explosive stockpiling

and is potentially a very hazardous

situation if left unchecked

c. directly proportional to wind speed

d. inversely proportional to wind speed

inversely proportional to wind speed

A hammering type noise often heard in

a plumbing system is usually due to

Choose one answer.

a. a quick-closing valve requiring installation of an air chamber

b. vibrations from machines that require rubber mountings or resilient pads

c. the high mineral content of flowing water

d. low sound transmission loss of plumbing materials

a quick-closing valve requiring installation of an air chamber

In the United States, the Ringlemann

smoke chart consists of how many

rectangular charts?

Choose one answer.

a. three

b. four

c. five

d. six

four

A primary pollutant is one that is

formed in the atmosphere as a result of

chemical reactions.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

Individuals react differently to noise

depending on age, sex, and

socioeconomic background.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

Air pollution is the presence of ______ in

the outside air in amounts that are

injurious or detrimental to humans,

animals, plants, or property.

Choose one answer.

a. solids

b. gases

c. liquids

d. all of the above

all of the above

Stack samples must be collected at the

same speed of flow that gases

normally pass through the stack.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

The ______ of a sound wave is the energy

transferred per unit time (sec) through

a unit area normal to the direction of

propagation.

Choose one answer.

a. sound pressure

b. frequency

c. intensity

d. speed

intensity

The normal change in temperature with

altitude is

Choose one answer.

a. noted as an increase due to the increased closeness and lack of filtering of sunlight

b. noted as a decrease due to expansion and thus adiabatic cooling of air

c. noted as a decrease due to blackbody emission into space, coupled with the lessening of insulation provided by other air

d. noted as an increase due to the rising of warm air

noted as a decrease due to expansion and thus adiabatic cooling of air

The Safe Alternatives Policy program

Choose one answer.

a. specifies alternatives for all ozonedepleting

substances

b. lists unacceptable alternatives to

ozone-depleting substances

c. considers only ozone depletion

potential

d. is based on global warming

potential

specifies alternatives for all ozone-depleting substances

Ozone reduces the useful life of all of

the following except

Choose one answer.

a. rubber

b. textiles

c. dyes

d. nylon

nylon

Halon-1211 is used primarily in ______.

Choose one answer.

a. portable fire extinguishers

b. fixed fire suppression systems

c. printed circuit board cleaning

d. vapor degreasing

portable fire extinguishers

Air pollutants may be in the form of

microorganisms.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

Areas on the windward side of

mountain ranges can expect less

precipitation due to the forced rising,

expansion, and cooling of moving air

masses.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

The most common type of noise

measurement device used for initial

surveys to provide rapid evaluation and

identification of potential problem

areas is the

Choose one answer.

a. octave-band analyzer

b. noise dosimeter

c. sound level meter

d. sound analyzer

sound level meter

The first Federal standards for

occupational exposure to noise were

issued by

Choose one answer.

a. the Department of Transportation

b. the Federal Aviation Administration

c. the Department of Housing and

Urban Development

d. the Department of Labor

the Department of Labor

The concentration resulting from a

continuous emission of a pollutant is

directly proportional to wind speed.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

A primary pollutant is

Choose one answer.

a. one that is formed in the atmosphere

as a result of reactions such as

hydrolysis, oxidation, and

photochemistry

b. one that is found in the atmosphere

due to natural reactions

c. one that is found in the atmosphere

in the same form as it exists

d. none of the above

one that is found in the atmosphere in the same form as it exists

______ involves the chemistry, physics,

and dynamics of the atmosphere and

includes many direct effects of the

atmosphere on the earth's surface,

ocean, and life.

Choose one answer.

a. topography

b. meteorology

c. micrometeorology

d. none of the above

meteorology

The effects of air pollution are

influenced by

Choose one answer.

a. wind speed, and direction

b. sunlight

c. precipitation

d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following are not major

sources of sulfur dioxide pollution?

Choose one answer.

a. metal smelters

b. coal and oil burning power plants

c. refineries

d. electrical substations

electrical substations

In general terms, it is safe to assume

that any two identical sound levels will

have the effect of increasing the overall

level by 10 dB.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

False

Halon-1301 is used primarily in ______.

Choose one answer.

a. portable fire suppression systems

b. fixed fire suppression systems

c. precision cleaning processes

d. plastic foam blowing

fixed fire suppression systems

Sounds with a frequency of 30 hertz

(Hz) are considered very low pitch.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True

The major factors related to hearing

loss are

Choose one answer.

a. time duration of exposure and

repeated impact

b. intensity of sound waves

c. frequency content of sound

d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following is not a

malodorous gas?

Choose one answer.

a. sulfur dioxide

b. hydrogen sulfide

c. carbon monoxide

d. phenol

carbon monoxide

Impurities in combustible

hydrocarbons (coal and oil) combine

with oxygen to produce ______ when

burned.

Choose one answer.

a. nitrogen oxide

b. sulfur dioxide

c. nitrogen dioxide

d. carbon monoxide

sulfur dioxide

The speed with which sound travels

through a particular medium is

dependent on

Choose one answer.

a. the compressibility of the medium

b. the density of the medium

c. the compressibility and density of the medium

d. none of the above

the compressibility and density of the medium

______ is considered to be the least

damaging to the stratospheric ozone

layer.

Choose one answer.

a. CFCs

b. methyl bromide

c. halon

d. HCFCs

HCFCs

Which of the following is not a primary

pollutant?

Choose one answer.

a. sulfur dioxide

b. hydrocarbon

c. nitrogen dioxide

d. sulfuric acid

sulfuric acid

Almost all sound contains multiple

frequencies.

Choose one answer.

a. True

b. False

True