EXAMINATION COUNCIL OF HEALTH SCIENCES / UNZA

FINAL EXAMINATIONS FOR DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGISTS

COURSE: EPC 312 – ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CONTROL

DATE: JUNE, 2013

TIME: 09.00 – 12.00 HOURS

Time allowed: 3 hours plus 5 minutes reading time

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Check that you have the correct examination paper in front of you.
2. There are FOUR (4) sections in this paper, ONE, TWO, THREE and FOUR.
3. Read the instructions very carefully in each section before attempting to answer.
4. All questions must be answered on the examination answer booklet provided only.
5. Write down the number of the questions that you have answered on the cover of the
examination answer booklet.
6. No books, files or mechanical aids are permitted in the examination room.
7. There are shall be no form of communication between students during the examination.
Any
student caught doing this will be disqualified

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

SECTION ONE: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
There are thirty (30) questions in this section.
Answer ALL questions in this section
Write the best answer of your choice in the examination answer booklet provided
(Total marks = 30)

1. Which one of the following spheres of the environment serve as the ultimate sinks
for most anthropogenic chemicals.
(a) Anthrosphere and geosphere
(b) Atmosphere and anthrosphere
(c) Geosphere and hydrosphere
(d) Geosphere only
(e) None of the above

2. Pollutant substances that readily dissolve in water and are removed by precipitation
are referred to as…………………………………………………………..
(a) Solvent pollutants
(b) hydrophilic pollutants
(c) Precipitate pollutants
(d) Hydrophobic pollutants
(e) All of the above

3. When human beings or animals migrate to new environments or territories, they

begin to compete with other humans and the same is true with animals. The
phenomenon to which humans or animals blend into new environments without
being fearful of enemies is referred to as……………………………………
(a) Irritability resistance
(b) Abiotic resistance
(c) Natural resistance
(d) Environmental resistance
(e) Biotic resistance
4. Lack of water and alteration in chemical environment in an ecosystem are good
examples……………………………………………………….
(a) Growth factors
(b) Biotic factors
(c) Adaptability
(d) Only (a) and (b)
(e) Abiotic factors

5. “The law of the minimum is linked to the size limit of the population in an
environment and is determined by biotic and abiotic factors either singly or in
combination”. Which one(s) of the following give the best understanding of the law
of the minimum?
(a) Population cannot grow indefinitely
(b) Population is dependent on the carrying capacity of the environment
(c) At any given time, population growth is determined by the balance of
abiotic and biotic factors
(d) Reduction and growth factors are important domains in an ecosystem
(e) All of the above

6. The radioactive water pollutants from testing and use of nuclear weaponry pose
danger to human health. Which one of the following radioactive water pollutant is
known to accumulate in the bones and teeth and causes serious disorders in human
beings?
(a) Nickel
(b) Cadmium
(c) Sr 90
(d) Products beta rays’ pollutants
(e) All of the above

7. The following metals are classified as ‘heavy metals” except one, which one?
(a) Lead
(b) Uranium
(c) Selenium
(d) Mercury
(e) Cadmium

8. Heavy metals may enter the body of water through one or more of the following
routes:
(a) Street dust
(b) Domestic sewage
(c) Industrial effluents
 (d) All of the above
(e) Only (b) and (c)

9. Water pollution can be controlled by use of one or more of the following:

(a) Recycling of wastes
(b) Aerated lagoons
(c) Treating sewage and effluents
(d) Removal of specific pollutants
(e) All of the above

10. Colour, turbidity and temperature measurements during the sanitary survey are best
examples of …………………………………………………………………………….water
(a) Chemical conditions
(b) Bacteriological conditions
(c) Thermal conditions
(d) Physical conditions
(e) Thermal and physical conditions

11. Nutrient inputs to ecosystems are of great significance to human life. Important
nutrients for life generally enter ecosystems by one or more of the following
processes
(a) Symbiotic fixation with legumes
(b) Biological nitrogen fixation
(c) Weathering
(d) Atmospheric input
(e) All of the above

12. A change induced by human and natural causes can make an unbalance but a
stable ecosystem can bounce back to its previous condition. Which one of the
following is inherent property of an ecosystem to resist being changed by natural
events or by human interference?
(a) Environmental resistance of an ecosystem
(b) Stability of an ecosystem
(c) Irritability of an ecosystem
(d) Adaptability of an ecosystem
(e) None of the above

13. More recently, research has revealed that many chemical pollutants are known to be
endocrine disrupters, thus they interfere with the human body's reproductive and
 developmental functions. Which one one(s) of the following chemical pollutants are
among endocrine disrupters?
(a) Dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane (DDT),
(b) Dioxins
(c) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
(d) All of the above
(e) Only (a) and (c)

14. The buildup of large quantities of salts in the soil makes it unproductive, sterile or
unsuitable for plant growth. The process through which salts are concentrated in the
soil is called…………………………………………..
(a) Mineralization
(b) Alkalization
(c) Salinization
(d) Acidification
(e) All of the above

15. Escherichia coli (E. coli), one of the bacterium from the thermo tolerant group of
bacteria. E.coli presence in water is a strong indication of……………………………
(a) Salinity of water
(b) Human faecal contamination of water
(c) Animal faecal contamination of water
(d) All of the above
(e) Only (b) and (c)

16. Kafue River is said to be highly polluted by nitrates and phosphate and this pollution
is evident by the abundant growth of weeds which has not only affected its size but
also the aquatic life. Which one of the following processes is linked to nourishment
of Kafue river with nutrients?
(a) Eutrophication of rivers
(b) Alkalization of rivers
(c) Salinization of rivers
(d) Nutrification of rivers
(e) All of the above

17. In September 2006, World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirmed the restriction use
of DDT, only to be used for indoor residual spray programmes within the context of
Integrated Vector Management programmes in African countries where malaria
remains a major public health problem, citing that benefits of the pesticide outweigh
the health and environmental health risks and that it be kept out of agricultural
 sectors. Which one of the following is the major reason that led to ban of using DDT
in the agricultural sector?
(a) DDT is bio-cummulative
(b) DDT led to the death of biota
(c) DDT reduces the crop yield
(d) DDT affects bones and teeth of humans
(e) None of the above

18. A Landfill is a method of refuse disposal that public health practitioners always
recommend to Local Authorities as a hygienic method of managing municipal solid
wastes. Improper management of Landfills will lead to pollution of soil, underground
as well the atmosphere. Which one of the following gases emanating from the
improperly managed landfill is likely to pollute the atmosphere and contribute to
‘Green house effect’?
(a) SO2
(b) NO2
(c) CO2
(d) CO
(e) Methane

19. Human waste contains nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates with trace
elements of the potassium (K) and therefore requires dissolved oxygen for it to be
decomposed. The amount of dissolved oxygen required by aerobic biological
organisms in a body of water to break down organic materials present in that body of
water is called……..
(a) Biological oxygen demand (B.O.D)
(b) Biochemical oxygen demand (B.O.D)
(c) Oxygen demand (O.D)
(d) Organic oxygen demand (O.O.D)
(e) All of the above

20. The discharge of clean hot water into an unpolluted stream is hence as harmful as
the discharge of organic waste. What does this statement mean?
(a) In both cases oxygen is restored in the stream to vitalize aquatic life due
to nutrients from the wastes and warmth from hot water
(b) In both cases water is warmed from the organic waste as well as from hot
water discharged in the stream
(c) In both cases oxygen is reduced affecting aquatic life to thrive in a stream
(d) All of the above
(e) Only (b) and (c)
21. Which one of the following spheres of the environment is open to both energy and
matter?
(a) Geosphere and Hydrosphere
(b) Atmosphere
(c) Thermosphere
(d) Exosphere
(e) None of the above

22. Feedback is a mechanism by which processes in a system regulate themselves.

The environment for example, has a natural mechanism by which it regulates itself
and strike a balance for it to function properly. If however, the environment receives
more solid wastes and its natural ability fails to decompose or biodegrade the stated
wastes, this type of feedback is called…………………………………………………
(a) Natural feedback
(b) Opposite feedback
(c) Positive feedback
(d) Negative feedback
(e) None of the above

23. For the nation to pursue economic growth, it must forgo the quality of the
environment and similarly, in order to sustain the environment, reduce the economic
growth. In environmental economics this type of approach is called…………………
(a) Complementary approach
(b) Development and growth approach
(c) Exponential growth approach
(d) Trade off approach
(e) Only (a) and (c)

24. The study that interprets personality, behavior, and mental illness in terms of
responses to interrelated biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors is
called……………….
(a) Biometry
(b) Psychobiology
(c) Psychometry
(d) Psychosocial
(e) None of the above

25. The tropopause is also called the ‘cold trap’. Why is the tropopause important for the
Mother Earth?
(a) Earth would lose all its water without the cold trap
 (b) Earth would melt without the cold trap
(c) Earth would not receive the rains without the cold trap
(d) Earth would not rotate around the sun without the cold trap
(e) All of the above

26. Why is the stratosphere important for the Mother Earth?

(a) The stratosphere protects the Earth from being polluted
(b) The stratosphere contains a thin layer of ozone which absorbs most of the
harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun
(c) The stratosphere protects the ozone layer from being depleted
(d) The stratosphere contains a cold layer where the temperature generally
decreases with increasing altitude
(e) None of the above

27. As human technology becomes more evolved, so do the impacts of human activities
on the environment. Which one of the following spheres is responsible for effects
that we see today on the Mother Earth arising human activities
(a) Mesosphere
(b) Anthrosphere
(c) Biosphere
(d) Geosphere
(e) Hydrosphere

28. Polychlorinated biphenyl’s commonly referred to as PCBs and radio-active materials

are best examples of one of the following
(a) Biodegradable materials
(b) Heavy metals
(c) Non-degradable materials
(d) Carcinogenic materials
(e) All of the above

29. Why does water readily gets contaminated by materials with which it comes into
physical contact?
(a) Water has bigger molecules which allow any material to be dissolved
(b) Water is a universal solvent
(c) Water has large surface area hence any material it comes into contact
readily dissolves in it
(d) All of the above
(e) Only (a) and (b) are correct
30. People have been effortlessly coming up with number of deductions and measures
to control the alarming disasters that are sabotaging the Earth's environment to an
 extent we cannot fathom yet. Which one or more of the following are seen to
contributing more immensely to pollution of the environment?
(a) Alarming population growth
(b) Over-use of agrochemicals
(c) Industrialization
(d) Technological growth
(e) All of the above

SECTION TWO: TRUE OR FALSE QUESTIONS

 There are FOURTEEN (14) questions in this section.
 Answer ALL questions in this section
 Each question carries one (1) mark
 Indicate the best answer of your choice either TRUE or FALSE in the answer
booklet
(Total marks = 14)

Question 2

(a) Plant growth regulators such as growth promoters or growth inhibitors are classified
as Pesticides TRUE or FALSE

(b) Acid rain refers to the decrease in the pH value of the rain water caused by the
presence of the atmospheric emissions and is considered to be a primary pollutant
TRUE or FALSE

(c) The sun shines at a high temperature of about 6000 degree Kelvin. At this
temperature the solar radiation is long-wave radiation which cannot pass through
the glass.

(d) Three-quarters of the earth’s surface covered by land and much of the remainder
covered by water TRUE or FALSE

(e) Dynamic equilibrium state of a system is a good example of an isolated system

TRUE or FALSE

(f) Complementary approach states that economic growth and development can be
pursued by putting mitigation measures to protect the environment TRUE or
FALSE
(g) Alkaline soils are indicated by the presence of plants species with more calcium
ions TRUE or FALSE

(h) DDT belongs to the group of pesticides called “Carbonated compounds” TRUE or
FALSE

(i) Metabolic products of pesticides are not carcinogenic TRUE or FALSE

(j) The flying range of aircrafts is the troposphere of the atmosphere TRUE or FALSE

(k) Saline soils having pH below 8.5 usually do not support the growth of plants TRUE
or FALSE

(l) Once DDT enters the food chain, may accumulate in human fats and may lead to
impotency in humans TRUE or FALSE

(m) Oil spills is not a factor in environmental management TRUE or FALSE

(n) Nematocides and Acaricides are not classified as Pesticides TRUE or FALSE

SECTION THREE: MATCHING QUESTIONS

 There are ten (10) questions in this section.
 Answer ALL questions.
 Each question carries 1 mark.
 Match the element against the correct description
(Total marks = 10)

Element Description
Global warming (a) Synthetic pesticides, synthetic detergents (syndets), food
additives, pharmaceuticals and insecticides,
Biodegradable (b) Examples are Dieldrin, lindane, Aldrin etc
pollutants
Polychlorinated (c) No outputs or inputs that operate in the system and the
biphenyls (PCBs), boundaries are not crossed.
Inorganic compounds (d) A system that is undergoes change.

Chlorinated (e) Plastic products

hydrocarbons
Dynamic equilibrium (f) Used in research, agricultural, industrial and medical
state of a system applications
Organic compounds (g) Escherichia coli
Static equilibrium of a (h) Increase in the temperature of earth resulting in over
system: melting of ice and rising of water level in the oceans and
increase in vector borne diseases and the discomfort.
Radioactive isotopes (i) Metal compounds, cyanides, sulphates and nitrates
Thermotolerant bacteria (j) Decompose by natural processes

END OF TEST