Question 1

Poor inner city children are exposed to lead toxicity primarily from _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  lead containing paint on toys 
B)  uptake from soils into food plants 
C)  by atmospheric deposition on plant leaves 
D)  eating soil and dust 
A)  lead containing paint on toys 
B)  uptake from soils into food plants 
C)  by atmospheric deposition on plant leaves 
D)  eating soil and dust

Question 2

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

In soils treated with excessive rates of high-metal sewage sludge, most of the cadmium and lead is likely to be found in the form of exchangeable ions on the clay and humus exchange complex in the soil.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Which of the following are considered to be "heavy metals" that can contaminate soils and the food chain?

Accepted Answer

A)  cadmium 
B)  zinc 
C)  lead 
D)  copper 
E)  all of the above 
A)  cadmium 
B)  zinc 
C)  lead 
D)  copper 
E)  all of the above

Question 5

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  kill or inhibit soil organisms (other than any pest targeted) 
B)  kill or injure plants (other than any target weeds). 
C)  contaminate or be taken up by plants and so cause toxic effects to animals or people eating the plants 
D)  leach to groundwater cause toxic effects in drinking water or aquatic ecosystems 
E)  all of the above 
A)  kill or inhibit soil organisms (other than any pest targeted) 
B)  kill or injure plants (other than any target weeds). 
C)  contaminate or be taken up by plants and so cause toxic effects to animals or people eating the plants 
D)  leach to groundwater cause toxic effects in drinking water or aquatic ecosystems 
E)  all of the above

Question 7

If a soil is repeatedly polluted by a toxic organic compound over a period of years, the soil microbes will lose their ability to degrade the toxin.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Lead toxicity to children that get soil into their mouths can be reduced by heavy P fertilization of the soil.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbamates 
B)  organo phosphates 
C)  chlorinated hydrocarbons 
A)  carbamates 
B)  organo phosphates 
C)  chlorinated hydrocarbons

Question 12

Of the following metals often found in sewage sludge, which would most likely become toxic to farmers' crops if sludge applications exceeded the recommended amounts.

Accepted Answer

A)  Cu 
B)  Cr 
C)  Cd 
D)  Pb 
E)  Hg 
A)  Cu 
B)  Cr 
C)  Cd 
D)  Pb 
E)  Hg

Question 13

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Hyperaccumulators are plants that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  can survive on metal-contaminated soil by growing without taking in too much of the metal in question 
B)  are extremely sensitive to the toxic effect of certain heavy metals and therefore act as an early warning system to detect contamination 
C)  take up extremely high amounts of certain metals without being harmed 
D)  accumulate dense root mats just above the layer of polluted soil 
E)  none of the above 
A)  can survive on metal-contaminated soil by growing without taking in too much of the metal in question 
B)  are extremely sensitive to the toxic effect of certain heavy metals and therefore act as an early warning system to detect contamination 
C)  take up extremely high amounts of certain metals without being harmed 
D)  accumulate dense root mats just above the layer of polluted soil 
E)  none of the above

Question 15

Generally an organic chemical is destroyed when it is lost from the soil by volatilization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  refrigerants 
B)  pesticides 
C)  fuels 
D)  preservatives 
E)  plasticizers 
A)  refrigerants 
B)  pesticides 
C)  fuels 
D)  preservatives 
E)  plasticizers

Question 17

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  bioremediation 
B)  increased cation exchange 
C)  improved ventilation with fresh air 
D)  sealing off cracks in basement walls and foundations 
E)  both C and D 
A)  bioremediation 
B)  increased cation exchange 
C)  improved ventilation with fresh air 
D)  sealing off cracks in basement walls and foundations 
E)  both C and D

Question 18

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Poor inner city children are exposed to lead toxicity primarily from _____.

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

In soils treated with excessive rates of high-metal sewage sludge, most of the cadmium and lead is likely to be found in the form of exchangeable ions on the clay and humus exchange complex in the soil.

Which of the following are considered to be "heavy metals" that can contaminate soils and the food chain?

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

If a soil is repeatedly polluted by a toxic organic compound over a period of years, the soil microbes will lose their ability to degrade the toxin.

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Lead toxicity to children that get soil into their mouths can be reduced by heavy P fertilization of the soil.

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Of the following metals often found in sewage sludge, which would most likely become toxic to farmers' crops if sludge applications exceeded the recommended amounts.

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Hyperaccumulators are plants that ________.

Generally an organic chemical is destroyed when it is lost from the soil by volatilization.

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

The Soils Around Us

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

The Colloidal Fraction: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity, Alkalinity, Aridity and Salinity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter Overview

Nutrient Cycles and Soil Fertility

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Filters

Exam 15: Soils and Chemical Pollution

Poor inner city children are exposed to lead toxicity primarily from _____.

Most classes of pesticides include some kind of aromatic ring in their chemical structure.

In soils treated with excessive rates of high-metal sewage sludge, most of the cadmium and lead is likely to be found in the form of exchangeable ions on the clay and humus exchange complex in the soil.

Which of the following are considered to be "heavy metals" that can contaminate soils and the food chain?

The greatest environmental or social cost of pesticide use in the United States is the damage to sport and commercial fishing.

Toxic organic compounds that contaminate soils are an environmental problem because they may ____.

If a soil is repeatedly polluted by a toxic organic compound over a period of years, the soil microbes will lose their ability to degrade the toxin.

Radon is a chemically inert gas that emanates from certain soils and builds up in confined spaces such as the basements of buildings.

Clay, especially of the 2:1 types, tends to adsorb larger quantities of organic chemicals per gram than does the organic matter component of soils.

Lead toxicity to children that get soil into their mouths can be reduced by heavy P fertilization of the soil.

Which group of organic insecticides is most damaging to earthworms in soils?

Of the following metals often found in sewage sludge, which would most likely become toxic to farmers' crops if sludge applications exceeded the recommended amounts.

Phytoremediation is a system by which growing plants are used to decontaminate polluted soils.

Hyperaccumulators are plants that ________.

Generally an organic chemical is destroyed when it is lost from the soil by volatilization.

Which class of organic toxins is often intentionally applied to soils?

Most practical solutions to toxic levels of indoor radon involve ____.

Herbicides are generally the most toxic of pesticides to soil organisms.

One disadvantage of bioremediation is that this technology is usually much more expensive than standard engineering approaches for decontaminating polluted soils.

The adsorption of many pesticides is greater in strongly acid soils than in neutral to alkaline soils.

The Soils Around Us

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

The Colloidal Fraction: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity, Alkalinity, Aridity and Salinity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter Overview

Nutrient Cycles and Soil Fertility

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Filters