The Dec 26th Static Quiz on Environment (Environment Pollution) Part 2

Ans;- c) 1 and 3 only

Explanation;-

• The 2nd statement is incorrect because bioremediation cannot be completely treated.

• Bioremediation is a process used to treat contaminated media, including water, soil and subsurface material, by altering environmental conditions to stimulate growth of microorganisms and degrade the target pollutants.
• Bioremediation companies that specialize in soil and groundwater use microbes that feed on the hazardous substances for energy, which results in the breakdown of the targeted contaminant. Examples include junkyards, industrial spills, land development, fertilizer use, and more.
• Microbial bioremediation uses microorganisms to break down contaminants by using them as a food source.
• Phytoremediation uses plants to bind, extract, and clean up pollutants such as pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, and chlorinated solvents.
• Bioremediation uses micro-organisms to reduce pollution through the biological degradation of pollutants into non-toxic substances. This can involve either aerobic or anaerobic micro-organisms that often use this breakdown as an energy source.

Ans;- b) Only 2

Explanation;-

• The 1st statement is incorrect because  Increase in water temperature decreases dissolved oxygen in the water not increases.
• Thermal pollution, sometimes called “thermal enrichment,” is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers.
• Thermal pollution is defined as a sudden increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body of water, which may be ocean, lake, river or pond by human influence. This normally occurs when a plant or facility takes in water from a natural resource and puts it back with an altered temperature.
• Simply put, thermal pollution comes from hot water or cold water being dumped into a body of water. Bodies of water naturally tend to dissipate the heat gained from warm currents, underwater hot springs, and from the sun.
• Over longer time-scales there is no net heat inflow to Earth since incoming solar energy is re-emitted at exactly the same rate.
• Such thermal pollution contributes to global warming until the global temperature has reached a level where this heat is also emitted to space.

Ans;- d) nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide

Explanation;-

• Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
• The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground.

• Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminum to be released into the soil, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water.

Ans;- c) The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.

Explanation;-

• Under the Solid Waste Management, Rules 2016, waste processing facilities will have to be set up by all local bodies having 1 million or more population within two years.
• In case of census towns below 1 million population, setting up common, or stand-alone sanitary landfills by, or for all local bodies having 0.5 million or more population and for setting up common, or regional sanitary landfills by all local bodies and census towns under 0.5 million population will have to be completed in three years.
• Hence, rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for identification of landfill sites and waste processing facilities. Hence option C is correct.
• Waste generators would now have to now segregate waste into three streams- Biodegradables, Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, Wood, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous waste (diapers, napkins, mosquito repellants, cleaning agents etc.) before handing it over to the collector. Hence, option a is incorrect.

Ans;- c) Only 1,3 and 4

Explanation;-

• Discharge of hot water in water body affects feeding in fishes, increases their metabolism and affects their growth, not decreases that’s y 2nd statement is incorrect.
• Their swimming efficiency declines. Running away from predators or chasing prey becomes difficult.
• Their resistance to diseases and parasites decreases.
• Due to thermal pollution biological diversity is reduced.
• The warm temperature reduces the levels of DO (Dissolved Oxygen) in water.
• The warm water holds relatively less oxygen than cold water.
• The decrease in DO can create suffocation for plants and animals such as fish, amphibians and copepods, which may give rise to anaerobic conditions.
• Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers.

Ans;- d) All of the above

Explanation;-

• The effects of smog
1. It hampers visibility and harms the environment.
2. respiratory problems
3. deaths relating to bronchial diseases.
4. Heavy smog greatly decreases ultraviolet radiation.
5. Heavy smog results in the decrease of natural vitamin D production leading to a rise in the cases of rickets.

Ans;- b) Only 2

Explanation;-

• The CPCB has been executing a nationwide programme of ambient air quality monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) not NGT.

National Air Quality Monitoring Programme

• In India, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been executing a nationwide programme of ambient air quality monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
• The National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) is undertaken in India
• to determine status and trends of ambient air quality
• to ascertain the compliance of NAAQS
• to identify non-attainment cities
• to understand the natural process of cleaning in the atmosphere; and
• to undertake preventive and corrective measures.
• Annual average concentration of SOx levels are within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Ans;- c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation;-

• Both the statements are correct regarding NAAQS.
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were notified in the year 1982, duly revised in 1994 based on health criteria and land uses.
• The NAAQS have been revisited and revised in November 2009 for 12 pollutants, which include
• sulphur dioxide (SO2),
• nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
• particulate matter having size less than 10 micron (PM10),
• particulate matter having size less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5),
• ozone,
• lead,
• carbon monoxide (CO),
• arsenic,
• nickel,
• benzene,
• ammonia, and
• Benzopyrene

Ans;- c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation;-

• Both the statements are correct.
• National Air Quality Index was launched by the Prime Minister in April, 2015 starting with 14 cities to disseminate air quality information.
• The AQI has six categories of air quality, viz Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe with distinct colour scheme. Each of these categories is associated with likely health impacts.
• AQI considers eight pollutants (PM10, PM 2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3 and Pb) for which (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

Ans;- c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation;-

• Both the statements are correct.
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July 1916 to promote the survey, exploration, research and documentation leading to the advancement in our knowledge on various aspects of animal taxonomy of the Indian subcontinent.
• ZSI is a premier institution on animal taxonomy in India under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. ZSI has been declared as the designated repository for the National Zoological Collection as per Section 39 of the National Biodiversity Act, 2002.