Environmental Pollution and Management — GK Questions with Answers

1. Which of these contaminants have been detected in drinking water in many parts of the country? 1. Arsenic 2. Sorbitol 3. Fluoride 4. Formaldehyde 5. Uranium (IAS 2013)
   1. 1 and 3
   2. 2, 4 and 5
   3. 1, 3 and 5
   4. All
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   Answer: (C) 1, 3 and 5

   Arsenic, fluoride and uranium all occur in groundwater.

2. Acid rain is caused mainly by which pollutants?
   1. CO₂ and nitrogen
   2. CO and CO₂
   3. Ozone and CO₂
   4. Oxides of nitrogen and SO₂
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   Answer: (D) Oxides of nitrogen and SO₂

   They react with cloud water to form nitric and sulphuric acids.

3. Which pair is NOT correctly matched?
   1. Itai-itai — cadmium
   2. Minamata — mercury
   3. Knock-knee — lead
   4. Blue baby — nitrate
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   Answer: (C) Knock-knee — lead

   Knock-knee is a sign of skeletal fluorosis — caused by fluoride.

4. Why does excess CO in the air cause oxygen shortage in the body?
   1. CO turns into CO₂ in the body
   2. Haemoglobin has a far greater affinity for CO than for oxygen
   3. CO destroys haemoglobin
   4. CO blocks the brain's breathing centre
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   Answer: (B) Haemoglobin has a far greater affinity for CO than for oxygen

   Carboxyhaemoglobin occupies the sites that should carry oxygen.

5. Choose the correct statements on radioactive pollution — 1. It causes genetic changes in animals 2. It upsets the balance of soil minerals 3. It affects blood-forming tissue/circulation 4. It causes cancer
   1. 1 and 2
   2. 1 and 4
   3. 1, 3 and 4
   4. 2, 3 and 4
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   Answer: (C) 1, 3 and 4

   Radiation damages DNA, blood cells and tissues, and can cause cancer.

6. On BOD — 1. It is the oxygen needed by microbes in 1 litre of water over 5 days 2. The more polluted the water, the lower the BOD 3. It is key to setting water-pollution standards. Correct statements?
   1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. 1 and 2
   4. 1 and 3
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   Answer: (D) 1 and 3

   As pollution rises, BOD rises, not falls.

7. 1. A "green muffler" is a technique to reduce air pollution. 2. Tree belts planted with proper zoning in big cities can shield people from noise. Correct statements?
   1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. 1 and 2
   4. Neither
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   Answer: (B) 2 only

   A green muffler is a belt of trees that absorbs noise.

8. Which pollutant is NOT part of the National Air Quality Index (AQI)?
   1. Ammonia
   2. Lead
   3. Carbon dioxide
   4. Ozone
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   Answer: (C) Carbon dioxide

   The 8 AQI pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, Pb.

9. From when did BS-VI emission norms apply across India?
   1. 1 April 2017
   2. 1 April 2018
   3. 1 April 2020
   4. 1 October 2020
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   Answer: (C) 1 April 2020

   BS-VI fuel reached Delhi in 2018; nationwide from 1 April 2020.

10. Which committee treated only about 37% of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive?
    1. Gadgil Committee
    2. Kasturirangan Committee
    3. Swaminathan Committee
    4. T. S. R. Subramanian Committee
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    Answer: (B) Kasturirangan Committee

    The Gadgil Committee had recommended about three-fourths.

11. Where did the Chipko movement begin?
    1. Tehri
    2. Gopeshwar (Chamoli)
    3. Sirsi
    4. Khejarli
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    Answer: (B) Gopeshwar (Chamoli)

    In 1973, led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt's Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal.

12. UNEP's "Champions of the Earth" award succeeded which award?
    1. Sasakawa Prize
    2. Global 500 Roll of Honour
    3. Right Livelihood Award
    4. Whitley Award
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    Answer: (B) Global 500 Roll of Honour

    After Global 500 (1987–2003) came Champions of the Earth from 2005.

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