Chapter 19 Environmental Health
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 1
1. Which is the most accurate definition of an exposure pathway?
A) The total amount of a contaminant that comes in direct contact with the body
B) Factor that determines a person's level of exposure to a contaminant
C) Method by which people are exposed to an environmental contaminant
D) Process to determine whether exposure to an environmental contaminant has
occurred
Ans: C
Feedback:
An exposure pathway is the method by which people are exposed to an environmental
contaminant that originates from a specific source. Exposure is a measure of the total
amount of a contaminant that comes in direct contact with the body. An exposure
estimate is a method of determining a person's level of exposure to a contaminant on the
basis of associated factors. An exposure history is a process to help determine whether
an individual has been exposed to environmental contaminants.
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 2
2. The nurse travels to Nigeria with a humanitarian aid organization to assess and treat
members of a remote community. The children all have high levels of lead in their
blood, as a result of exposure to lead dust created by gold mining. Many children are
dying. The nurse has never witnessed such a phenomenon in the United States. Which
are the most likely reasons for this discrepancy? (Select all that apply.)
A) Larger mining operations than in the United States
B) Lack of environmental regulations or of their enforcement
C) Lack of knowledge concerning environmental dangers
D) Weaker immune systems than in the United States
E) Need of the miners to earn a living and fewer work options
Ans: B, C, E
Feedback:
This situation is caused by a combination of limited environmental protections, lack of
knowledge concerning environmental dangers by local community members, and the
need to earn an income. The size of the mining operations is not relevant. The strength
of the children's immune system is irrelevant, as the immune system is effective against
invading microorganisms, not against lead.
Page 1
, Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 3
3. The nurse visits the home of client in a low-income community and notices that paint is
flaking off the walls and forming a dust in the corners of some rooms. The nurse asks
the client when the house was built, and she responds that it was built in 1959. Which
contaminant should the nurse expect to find in this home?
A) Lead
B) Radon
C) Asbestos
D) Pesticide
Ans: A
Feedback:
Contaminants in the environment, such as asbestos, lead, or radon, influence human
health. For example, lead was used in paint until the 1970s and is often found in houses
built earlier. As the old paint breaks down, lead can be found in dust and old paint chips
in homes. In communities with older, deteriorating housing, children can be exposed to
lead. In many cases, such housing is found in poorer communities. There are no
indications of the other contaminants being present.
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 4
4. Several important pieces of legislation have helped highlight the importance of
environmental health and environmental protection. Which best describes Superfund?
A) National program to control the damaging effects of air pollution
B) Program that protects and enhances the quality of the nation's air by regulating
stationary and mobile sources of air emissions
C) Environmental program established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites
D) Comprehensive framework of standards, technical tools, and financial assistance
to address the many causes of pollution and poor water quality
Ans: C
Feedback:
Superfund is the name given to the environmental program established to address
abandoned hazardous waste sites. The Clean Water Act focuses on improving the
quality of the nation's waters. It provides a comprehensive framework of standards,
technical tools, and financial assistance to address the many causes of pollution and
poor water quality, including municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, polluted
runoff from urban and rural areas, and habitat destruction. The Clean Air Act is a
national program to control the damaging effects of air pollution. It protects and
enhances the quality of the nation's air by regulating stationary and mobile sources of air
emissions.
Page 2
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 1
1. Which is the most accurate definition of an exposure pathway?
A) The total amount of a contaminant that comes in direct contact with the body
B) Factor that determines a person's level of exposure to a contaminant
C) Method by which people are exposed to an environmental contaminant
D) Process to determine whether exposure to an environmental contaminant has
occurred
Ans: C
Feedback:
An exposure pathway is the method by which people are exposed to an environmental
contaminant that originates from a specific source. Exposure is a measure of the total
amount of a contaminant that comes in direct contact with the body. An exposure
estimate is a method of determining a person's level of exposure to a contaminant on the
basis of associated factors. An exposure history is a process to help determine whether
an individual has been exposed to environmental contaminants.
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 2
2. The nurse travels to Nigeria with a humanitarian aid organization to assess and treat
members of a remote community. The children all have high levels of lead in their
blood, as a result of exposure to lead dust created by gold mining. Many children are
dying. The nurse has never witnessed such a phenomenon in the United States. Which
are the most likely reasons for this discrepancy? (Select all that apply.)
A) Larger mining operations than in the United States
B) Lack of environmental regulations or of their enforcement
C) Lack of knowledge concerning environmental dangers
D) Weaker immune systems than in the United States
E) Need of the miners to earn a living and fewer work options
Ans: B, C, E
Feedback:
This situation is caused by a combination of limited environmental protections, lack of
knowledge concerning environmental dangers by local community members, and the
need to earn an income. The size of the mining operations is not relevant. The strength
of the children's immune system is irrelevant, as the immune system is effective against
invading microorganisms, not against lead.
Page 1
, Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 3
3. The nurse visits the home of client in a low-income community and notices that paint is
flaking off the walls and forming a dust in the corners of some rooms. The nurse asks
the client when the house was built, and she responds that it was built in 1959. Which
contaminant should the nurse expect to find in this home?
A) Lead
B) Radon
C) Asbestos
D) Pesticide
Ans: A
Feedback:
Contaminants in the environment, such as asbestos, lead, or radon, influence human
health. For example, lead was used in paint until the 1970s and is often found in houses
built earlier. As the old paint breaks down, lead can be found in dust and old paint chips
in homes. In communities with older, deteriorating housing, children can be exposed to
lead. In many cases, such housing is found in poorer communities. There are no
indications of the other contaminants being present.
Origin: Chapter 19- Environmental Health, 4
4. Several important pieces of legislation have helped highlight the importance of
environmental health and environmental protection. Which best describes Superfund?
A) National program to control the damaging effects of air pollution
B) Program that protects and enhances the quality of the nation's air by regulating
stationary and mobile sources of air emissions
C) Environmental program established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites
D) Comprehensive framework of standards, technical tools, and financial assistance
to address the many causes of pollution and poor water quality
Ans: C
Feedback:
Superfund is the name given to the environmental program established to address
abandoned hazardous waste sites. The Clean Water Act focuses on improving the
quality of the nation's waters. It provides a comprehensive framework of standards,
technical tools, and financial assistance to address the many causes of pollution and
poor water quality, including municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, polluted
runoff from urban and rural areas, and habitat destruction. The Clean Air Act is a
national program to control the damaging effects of air pollution. It protects and
enhances the quality of the nation's air by regulating stationary and mobile sources of air
emissions.
Page 2
