CHAPTER 9 SAMPLE QUIZ QUESTIONS
9.1. Name five pneumoconioses and identify their causes.
9.2. Name five chemical irritants.
9.3. What distinguishing effect do irritants have upon the body?
9.4. What extremely dangerous gas can be produced when chlorinated hydrocarbons
are exposed to welding radiation?
9.5. What extremely dangerous gas can be produced when solvents and degreasers
are exposed to welding radiation?
9.6. Which of the following is a dangerous gas associated with the exposure of
chlorinated hydrocarbons to welding radiation?
a. hydrogen cyanide
b. hydrogen sulfide
c. chlorine
ref. p. 202
9.7. Which of the following is a dangerous gas associated with the exposure of
solvents and degreasers to welding radiation?
a. hydrogen cyanide
b. hydrogen sulfide
c. chlorine
ref. p. 202
9.8. Corrosive action on the nasal septum is most associated with which of the
following air contaminants?
a. ammonia
b. chromic acid
c. phosgene
d. oxides of nitrogen
ref. p. 202
9.9. The toxic effects of halogens are primarily
a. as systemic poisons
b. as depressants
c. as irritants
d. as carcinogens
ref. p. 202
9.10. The toxic effects of bromine are primarily
a. as a systemic poison
b. as a depressant
c. as an irritant
d. as a carcinogen
ref. p. 202
9.11. The toxic effects of chlorine are primarily
a. as a systemic poison
b. as a depressant
c. as an irritant
d. as a carcinogen
ref. p. 202
9.12. The toxic effects of fluorine are primarily
a. as a systemic poison
b. as a depressant
c. as an irritant
d. as a carcinogen
ref. p. 202
9.13. Carbon disulfide is a systemic poison.
9.14. Which of the following useful chemicals is a solvent, disinfectant, and
insecticide, but unfortunately is also a systemic poison?
b. chlorine
c. sodium hydroxide
d. hydrogen sulfide
ref. p. 202
9.15. The toxic effects of acetylene are primarily as
a. an irritant
b. a systemic poison
c. a carcinogen
ref. p. 203
9.16. Name at least three modes of toxicity for benzene.
9.17. Benzene has which of the following effects upon the body?
a. irritant
b. systemic poison
c. depressant
ref. p. 203
9.18. The primary effect of hydrogen cyanide upon the body is as
b. a systemic poison
c. a carcinogen
d. a depressant
ref. p. 205
9.19. Which of the following substances is known as a teratogen?
a. hydrogen sulfide
c. acetylene
d. MAPP gas
ref. p. 205
9.20. Which of the following classifications of toxic substances primarily attacks the
species, rather than the individual?
a. teratogens
c. systemic poisons
d. endemic agents
ref. p. 206
9.21. A well-known agent is extremely hazardous as a monomer but is virtually
harmless as a polymer. What is this agent?
9.22. Describe a way in which a toxic substance can be indirectly ingested into the
body.
9.23. What term describes gases that are normally liquids or solids?
9.24. Which of the following is not a particulate?
a. fumes
c. dusts
d. mists
ref. p. 208
9.25. A coal dust particle is determined in the laboratory to have diameter 17
micrometers.
a. What is the diameter in centimeters?
b. What is the diameter in inches?
c. Is the particle classified as dust or fume?
9.26. Which of the following is an OSHA-enforced concentration level for an airborne
contaminant?
a. TLV
c. CAS
d. ACGIH
ref. p. 210-211
9.27. Name the two types of flow process charts chemical engineers use to detect the
origin of leaks of toxic contaminants to the atmosphere surrounding a process.
9.28. Which concentration is usually higher, AL or PEL?
9.29. Consider the following observed concentrations of air contaminants:
TWA PEL
Isopropyl ether 200 ppm 500 ppm
Ethyl benzene 40 ppm 100 ppm
Chlorobenzene 25 ppm 75 ppm
Chlorobromomethane 50 ppm 200 ppm
Perform calculations to determine whether this atmosphere exceeds the PEL,
the AL, or both.
9.30. Name two analytic tools used by the chemical engineer to determine whether air
contaminant potentials are present in a process.
9.31. The proportion of health specialists in OSHA has increased since the early
1970s.
9.32. From what two perspectives is the impact of health hazards significant?
9.33. Appendix A.1 lists “Copper fumes” as having a TWA limit of .1 mg/m3. The
corresponding PEL in the ppm column is blank. Explain why no ppm PEL is
available for copper fumes.
9.34. Explain the standards completion project.
9.35. What is a teratogen?
9.36. An irritant whose effects upon the lung are minimal at first but whose irritant
mechanical action shows up much later is called
b. teratogen
c. mutagen
d. systemic poison
ref. p. 202
9.37. In which of the following types of workers would you be most likely to find the
nose septum completely destroyed?
a. cement worker
c. steel worker
d. asbestos worker
ref. p. 201
9.38. Ammonia is primarily which of the following types of air contaminants?
b. systemic poison
c. depressant
d. asphyxiant
ref. p. 201
9.39. At first, OSHA emphasized safety more than health.
9.40. Early methods for testing contamination of the atmosphere, using a canary or a
mouse, were used for testing which kind of exposure, acute or chronic?
9.41. Which of the following is recognized as a leukemia hazard?
a. methane
b. carbon disulfide
d. hydrogen cyanide
ref. p. 203
9.42. Which of the following is not a simple asphyxiant?
a. methane
b. argon
c. helium
ref. p. 204
9.43. Which of the molecular structures shown has been identified as a dangerous
carcinogen?
9.44. Chronic inhalation of which of the following molecular structures has been
identified with angiosarcoma?
9.45. Air contaminant tests reveal the following concentrations over an 8-hr shift. (All
values in ppm):
(PEL=150)
Isobutyl
acetate
(PEL = 1000)
Ethyl
Chloride
(PEL=300)
Cyclohexane
(PEL=25)
Diethylamine
8:00 – 9:00 am 15 400 200 20
9:00 – 11:00 am 10 200 100 10
11:00 – 1:00 pm 10 300 150 10
1:00 – 4:00 pm 5 100 50 5
Show all calculations to justify your answers to the following:
a. Is the PEL for any individual substance exceeded?
b. Is the AL for any individual substance exceeded?
c. Is the PEL for the mixture exceeded?
d. Is the AL for the mixture exceeded?
9.46. A plant’s atmosphere has the following concentrations of contaminants for the
times shown:
Diethylamine Phenol Methyl alcohol
(PEL 25 ppm) (PEL 5 ppm) (PEL 200 ppm)
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM 4 ppm none 10 ppm
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 6 ppm none 30 ppm
11:00 AM – noon 9 ppm 1 ppm 50 ppm
noon – 4:00 PM 12 ppm 3 ppm 80 ppm
Perform all calculations to determine whether action levels and PELs for the
contaminants and their mixture are exceeded. SHOW YOUR CALCULATIONS.
9.47. A hand-operated bellows pump would likely be used to
b. perform calibration of breathing apparatus
c. find the flashpoint of unknown liquids
d. assist in CPR
ref. p. 220
9.48. Pneumoconiosis
b. is a bloodborne pathogen.
c. acts more as a mutagen than a teratogen.
d. is expected to occur whenever air contaminants exceed the PEL.
ref. p. 201
9.49. Give a simple definition for the term “pneumoconiosis.” The text identified seven
different types of pneumoconisis. Name three of these seven “oses,” and for the
three you have selected, identify the cause of each.
9.50. In the context of occupational safety and health standards, identify each of the
following terms (write out what the letters represent) and then explain the purpose of
each. Explain how each term relates to others in the list.
AL
C
TWA
PEL
TLV
9.51. Which of the following is subject to periodic updating or changes as published by
the American Council of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)?
b. PELs
c. Als
d. STELs
ref. text p. 208-209
9.52. Explain the difference between a dosimeter and a direct-reading instrument.
9.53. A process engineer proposes a new solvent that will reduce the quantities
required by the process and significantly reduce the quantities of solvent vapors
released to the air inside the plant. The new solvent is trichloroethylene and it is
expected to reduce the solvent vapors absorbed into the plant air by 20% by
volume as compared to the old solvent (Stoddard solvent). You are called in as
a Certified Safety Professional to evaluate the proposed change to the process.
Do you support the proposed process change? Explain your position.
9.54. How many nanometers are equivalent to a micrometer?
9.55. What is the length to diameter ratio of a carbon nanotube?
9.56. Why are scientists concerned about the relationship of carbon nanotubes to
asbestos fibers?