AP Environmental Science Practice Quiz: Indoor Air Pollutants

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 16 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 16

According to the provided text, which of the following is a naturally occurring indoor air pollutant?

A)FormaldehydeB)LeadC)Radon-222D)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

All Questions (16)

According to the provided text, which of the following is a naturally occurring indoor air pollutant?

A) Formaldehyde

B) Lead

C) Radon-222

D) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Correct Answer: C

The text explicitly states that 'Radon-222 is a naturally occurring radioactive gas'. The other options—formaldehyde, lead, and VOCs—are listed as common human-made indoor air pollutants.

Which indoor air pollutant is classified as an asphyxiant?

A) Carbon monoxide

B) Radon-222

C) Lead

D) Formaldehyde

Correct Answer: A

The content states, 'Carbon monoxide is an indoor air pollutant that is classified as an asphyxiant.' An asphyxiant interferes with the body's ability to absorb or utilize oxygen.

The radioactive gas Radon-222 is produced by the decay of which element found in some rocks and soils?

A) Lead

B) Carbon

C) Plutonium

D) Uranium

Correct Answer: D

The text specifies that Radon-222 'is produced by the decay of uranium found in some rocks and soils.'

Which of the following lists contains ONLY human-made indoor air pollutants mentioned in the text?

A) Radon-222, formaldehyde, lead

B) Carbon monoxide, insulation, Radon-222

C) Insulation, VOCs, formaldehyde

D) VOCs, carbon monoxide, uranium

Correct Answer: C

The text identifies insulation, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and lead as common human-made pollutants. Option C is the only one that exclusively lists pollutants from this category. Options A and B include Radon-222 (natural), and Option D includes uranium (the source of a natural pollutant).

What is the primary health concern associated with exposure to radon gas, as described in the provided information?

A) Asphyxiation

B) Lead poisoning

C) Lung cancer

D) Allergic reactions from VOCs

Correct Answer: C

The text states, 'Exposure to radon gas can lead to radon-induced lung cancer, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America.' Asphyxiation is linked to carbon monoxide.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are identified as a common indoor air pollutant originating from which of the following sources?

A) Decay of uranium in soil

B) Incomplete combustion of fuels

C) Furniture and carpets

D) Old insulation materials

Correct Answer: C

The content explicitly lists 'Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from furniture/carpets' as a common human-made indoor air pollutant.

Lead, as an indoor air pollutant, is most commonly associated with which human-made product?

A) Insulation

B) Paints

C) Carpets

D) Furniture

Correct Answer: B

The text identifies 'lead from paints' as a common human-made indoor air pollutant.

A homeowner is concerned about a colorless, odorless gas seeping into their basement from the underlying geology. This gas is known to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. Which pollutant fits this description?

A) Carbon monoxide

B) Formaldehyde

C) Radon-222

D) Lead vapor

Correct Answer: C

The description matches Radon-222, which is a naturally occurring gas from the decay of uranium in rocks/soil and is identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in America.

The provided text categorizes the origins of indoor air pollutants into three main sources. These sources are:

A) Natural, industrial, and agricultural

B) Human-made, geological, and atmospheric

C) Indoor, outdoor, and subterranean

D) Natural, human-made, and combustion

Correct Answer: D

The fourth point in the content explicitly states, 'Indoor air pollutants can come from natural sources, human-made sources, and combustion.'

Which statement accurately distinguishes between the effects of carbon monoxide and radon-222 as described in the text?

A) Carbon monoxide is a radioactive asphyxiant, while radon-222 is a carcinogenic VOC.

B) Carbon monoxide interferes with oxygen transport, while radon-222's radioactive decay damages lung tissue.

C) Both pollutants are products of combustion, but carbon monoxide affects the lungs and radon-222 affects the blood.

D) Radon-222 is a human-made asphyxiant, while carbon monoxide is a natural gas that causes cancer.

Correct Answer: B

The text identifies carbon monoxide as an asphyxiant (which interferes with oxygen transport) and radon-222 as a radioactive gas that causes lung cancer. Option B correctly summarizes these distinct effects.

Which of the following is listed as a common human-made indoor air pollutant found in insulation?

A) Radon-222

B) Lead

C) Insulation itself

D) Carbon monoxide

Correct Answer: C

The text lists 'insulation' as a common human-made indoor air pollutant, implying that materials from insulation (like asbestos or fiberglass fibers, though not specified) can become airborne.

According to the text, what is the significance of radon-induced lung cancer in the United States?

A) It is the leading cause of all cancers.

B) It is a minor risk, affecting very few people.

C) It is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

D) It is the primary cause of death from indoor air pollution.

Correct Answer: C

The text is very specific, stating that radon-induced lung cancer 'is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America.'

A public health inspector is investigating a newly built home with all new furniture, carpeting, and pressed-wood cabinets. Which two pollutants are most likely to be found at elevated levels due to these specific sources?

A) Radon-222 and lead

B) Carbon monoxide and insulation fibers

C) VOCs and formaldehyde

D) Lead and carbon monoxide

Correct Answer: C

The text identifies 'Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from furniture/carpets' and 'formaldehyde' as common human-made indoor air pollutants. These are frequently associated with new building materials and furnishings.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the provided information?

A) All indoor air pollutants that come from combustion are classified as asphyxiants.

B) A naturally occurring pollutant, Radon-222, poses a significant lung cancer risk.

C) Human-made pollutants like VOCs are dangerous because they are radioactive.

D) Carbon monoxide is a radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium.

Correct Answer: B

The text directly supports this statement by identifying Radon-222 as a naturally occurring gas and linking it to being the second leading cause of lung cancer. The other options make claims not supported by the text (A), incorrectly link radioactivity to VOCs (C), or confuse the properties of carbon monoxide and radon (D).

The source of the indoor air pollutant formaldehyde is best categorized as:

A) Natural

B) Combustion

C) Human-made

D) Radioactive decay

Correct Answer: C

The text lists formaldehyde alongside insulation, VOCs, and lead as one of the 'common human-made indoor air pollutants.'

A student incorrectly claims that all major indoor air pollutants are synthetic chemicals created by humans. Which pollutant serves as a direct contradiction to this claim?

A) Formaldehyde

B) Lead from paint

C) VOCs from carpets

D) Radon-222

Correct Answer: D

The text clearly identifies Radon-222 as a 'naturally occurring radioactive gas' that comes from the decay of uranium in rocks and soil, directly contradicting the claim that all major pollutants are human-made.