ENVR ENG 3200 Exam 1: Revision Questions, Answers & Study Guide
What is environmental engineering? - correct answer ✔✔Mitigate, minimize, and alleviate the
impacts of human actions on the environment.
How does environmental engineering protect human health? - correct answer ✔✔Ensuring an
ample supply of potable water (storm water management, water treatment), managing
pollution in air, soil, and water (clean contaminants, emissions), and managing waste in a
sustainable manner (provide long-term benefits)
What is the origin of disease? - correct answer ✔✔Pathogenic organisms (like bacteria) within
an infected host can be excreted in waste and others exposed to this waste can be infected.
Relied on the work of John Snow in the mid-19th century
1854 London Cholera Outbreak - correct answer ✔✔Determined disease occurred due to
exposure to improperly stored human waste
Early efforts of environmental ("sanitary") engineers were devoted to: - correct answer ✔✔1.
Manage human/animal waste to prevent disease transmission --> wastewater
collection/treatment
2. Purification of drinking water --> drinking water treatment
The Donora Episode of 1948 - correct answer ✔✔Air emissions were not controlled affecting
approx. 14,000 residents on the Monongahela River caused by a zinc plant, steel and wire
making.
Unchecked emissions were favorably viewed by residents as a sign of industrial progress.
, Inversion conditions developed and lasted 6 days. About half of residents became sick, 21 died.
Doctors got lost in smog treating patients door-to-door. No federal emissions control, but some
states did have guidance.
This event spurred FEDERAL interest in controlling air pollution (through media coverage)
What event led to the 1955 Clean Air Act? - correct answer ✔✔The Donora Episode
What are inversion conditions? - correct answer ✔✔A type of atmospheric condition when cold
air on the ground is trapped by hot air on top.
Love Canal - correct answer ✔✔Suburb of Niagara Falls started by William T. Love. It failed due
to lack of money and poor timing (canal usage decreasing, railroad usage increasing)
Hooker chemical utilized the partially excavated canal to store industrial waste (pesticides,
chlorobenzenes, etc.) from 1942-1952
Filled it with soil and sold it to the City of Niagara Falls. The land was developed with houses, a
school, etc.
In the 1960s, residents complained about noxious gas, colored fluids, "magic pebbles," and
increased disease.
In the late 1970s, weather was wetter than normal causing the water table to rise and water to
start surfacing. This led to media attention, spurred action, and EPA investigation.
Which event led to the development of specific engineered landfills and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? - correct answer ✔✔Love Canal
What is environmental engineering? - correct answer ✔✔Mitigate, minimize, and alleviate the
impacts of human actions on the environment.
How does environmental engineering protect human health? - correct answer ✔✔Ensuring an
ample supply of potable water (storm water management, water treatment), managing
pollution in air, soil, and water (clean contaminants, emissions), and managing waste in a
sustainable manner (provide long-term benefits)
What is the origin of disease? - correct answer ✔✔Pathogenic organisms (like bacteria) within
an infected host can be excreted in waste and others exposed to this waste can be infected.
Relied on the work of John Snow in the mid-19th century
1854 London Cholera Outbreak - correct answer ✔✔Determined disease occurred due to
exposure to improperly stored human waste
Early efforts of environmental ("sanitary") engineers were devoted to: - correct answer ✔✔1.
Manage human/animal waste to prevent disease transmission --> wastewater
collection/treatment
2. Purification of drinking water --> drinking water treatment
The Donora Episode of 1948 - correct answer ✔✔Air emissions were not controlled affecting
approx. 14,000 residents on the Monongahela River caused by a zinc plant, steel and wire
making.
Unchecked emissions were favorably viewed by residents as a sign of industrial progress.
, Inversion conditions developed and lasted 6 days. About half of residents became sick, 21 died.
Doctors got lost in smog treating patients door-to-door. No federal emissions control, but some
states did have guidance.
This event spurred FEDERAL interest in controlling air pollution (through media coverage)
What event led to the 1955 Clean Air Act? - correct answer ✔✔The Donora Episode
What are inversion conditions? - correct answer ✔✔A type of atmospheric condition when cold
air on the ground is trapped by hot air on top.
Love Canal - correct answer ✔✔Suburb of Niagara Falls started by William T. Love. It failed due
to lack of money and poor timing (canal usage decreasing, railroad usage increasing)
Hooker chemical utilized the partially excavated canal to store industrial waste (pesticides,
chlorobenzenes, etc.) from 1942-1952
Filled it with soil and sold it to the City of Niagara Falls. The land was developed with houses, a
school, etc.
In the 1960s, residents complained about noxious gas, colored fluids, "magic pebbles," and
increased disease.
In the late 1970s, weather was wetter than normal causing the water table to rise and water to
start surfacing. This led to media attention, spurred action, and EPA investigation.
Which event led to the development of specific engineered landfills and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? - correct answer ✔✔Love Canal
