8- Self-Test Questions

Question 1

Contaminants moving through and across different media.

Answer 1

Environmental Transport and Fate.

Question 1

Means by which the contaminant actually enters or contacts the body.

Answer 1

Exposure route.

Question 2

Individuals that encounter contaminants.

Answer 2

Receptor population.

Question 3

Origin of environmental contamination.

Answer 3

Source.

Question 4

Location where individuals might encounter contaminated
medium.

Answer 4

Exposure point.

Question 5

What are the five elements that characterize exposure pathways?

Answer 5

(1) Source.
(2) Environmental fate and transport.
(3) Exposure point.
(4) Exposure route.
(5) Receptor population.

Question 6

During your exposure pathway evaluation, what information could evaluating the fate and
transport of a contaminant within an environmental media provide?

Answer 6

Determine how likely it is that contaminants have moved or will move beyond the source area and how
likely it is that contamination and exposure could occur.

Question 7

Cite the four categories of transport and fate mechanisms and provide a description of each.

Answer 7

(1) Emission – Refers to the actual release or discharge of the material from a source.
(2) Advection/convection – The normal migration or movement of the contaminant through a medium.
(3) Dispersion – Describes spreading of contaminants in a liquid, gas, or solid phase due to impingement
of the contaminant by the phase material.
(4) Attenuation – The retardation, degradation, or adsorption of a contaminant.

Question 8

Influences the direction and extent of contaminant
transport in groundwater.

Answer 8

Geologic composition.

Question 9

Indicator of a contaminant’s ability to migrate in the
environment.

Answer 9

Water solubility.

Question 10

Influences the direction and rate of surface water runoff and potential for flooding.

Answer 10

Topography.

Question 11

Indicator of how quickly a contaminant will evaporate from surface soils or water into the air.

Answer 11

Vapor pressure.

Question 12

Influences the dispersion and volatilization of airborne contaminants.

Answer 12

Wind speed.

Question 13

Influence the rate of percolation, groundwater recharge, contaminant release, and transport.

Answer 13

Soil characteristics.

Question 14

Influences the volatilization of contaminants.

Answer 14

Temperature conditions.

Question 14

Influences the vertical and lateral movement of
groundwater and contaminants.

Answer 14

Physical characteristics of aquifers.

Question 15

What two types of health effects can occur when air pollutants enter the lungs?

Answer 15

Pulmonary and systemic.

Question 16

Why are inhaled particles or droplets with a diameter greater than 5 μm not likely to reach the
lungs?

Answer 16

Larger particles tend to be trapped by the cilia lining of the respiratory tract.

Question 17

What health effects have been related to exposure to water pollutants?

Answer 17

(1) Cancer.
(2) Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes.
(3) Damage to the nervous system.
(3) Liver and kidney damage.
(4) Damage to the DNA.

Question 18

How can soil pollution lead to water pollution?

Answer 18

Toxic substances leach into groundwater, or if the contaminated runoff reaches streams, lakes, or oceans.