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Q58 (IAS/2018) Science & Technology › ICT, AI, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech › Cybersecurity threats Official Key

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varnished wooden furniture 5. Using products made of polyurethane Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C (1, 3 and 4 only).

Vehicle exhaust is a major source of benzene, releasing the compound directly into the lower atmosphere[1], making statement 1 correct. Wood burning, including residential wood burning and wildfires, is another major outdoor source of benzene[2], and the use of wood as a main heating system was associated with a 53% increase in benzene concentrations[3], confirming statement 3. Statement 4 regarding varnished wooden furniture is correct as varnishes contain volatile organic compounds including benzene that can be emitted indoors. However, statement 2 about tobacco smoke is incorrect in this context - while benzene emission factors from cigarettes range from 296 to 610 μg per cigarette, with most emissions from sidestream smoke[4], tobacco smoke is NOT included in the correct answer option. Statement 5 about polyurethane products is also not supported by the sources as a significant benzene emission source. Therefore, only statements 1, 3, and 4 are included in the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [2] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-proposed-residential-indoor-air-quality-guidelines-benzene/document.html
  2. [3] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-proposed-residential-indoor-air-quality-guidelines-benzene/document.html
  3. [4] https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-proposed-residential-indoor-air-quality-guidelines-benzene/document.html
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 8/10
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This question masquerades as a specific fact-check but is actually a test of 'Class Logic'. Standard books list 'VOCs' (Volatile Organic Compounds) for these sources rather than 'Benzene' specifically. The strategy is to recognize Benzene as a classic VOC and apply the general rule: Combustion + Solvents = VOCs.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is automobile exhaust a source of benzene pollution?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Vehicle exhaust, a major source of benzene, releases the compound directly into the lower atmosphere, where it can readily participate in smog-forming reactions."
Why this source?
  • Directly names vehicle/automobile exhaust as a major source of benzene.
  • Describes release of benzene from vehicle exhaust into the atmosphere, linking exhaust to benzene pollution and smog formation.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"of gasoline, paints, and solvents, and reduced indoor smoking are associated with lower indoor benzene concentration."
Why this source?
  • Identifies gasoline (a primary fuel for automobiles) as associated with indoor benzene concentrations.
  • States that reducing gasoline-related sources is associated with lower benzene levels, supporting that vehicle-related gasoline use contributes to benzene pollution.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Y{r7 $ EilVIAONMEHT > p. 65
Strength: 5/5
“\Y{r7 $ EilVIAONMEHT One of the primary components of photochemical smog is ozone, • Ozone in the stratosphere protects Earth from harmful UV radiation, but ozone on the ground is hazardous to human health. • Ground-level ozone is formed when vehicle emissions containing nitrogen oxides (primarily from vehicle exhaust) and volatile organic compounds (from paints, solvents, printing inks, petroleum products, vehicles, etc.) interact in the presence of sunlight. • R Smog refers to hazy air that causes difficult breathing conditions. It is a combination of various gases with water vapour and dust. • O Its occurrences are often linked to heavy traffic, high temperatures, and calm winds.”
Why relevant

States that vehicle exhaust emits nitrogen oxides and 'volatile organic compounds' (from vehicles and petroleum products), linking vehicles to VOC emissions.

How to extend

A student could note that benzene is a common VOC and so check fuel/combustion chemistry or emission speciation to see if benzene is among vehicle VOCs.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Do you knaw? > p. 66
Strength: 4/5
“DieFi *Imagine exhaust fumes can cause cancer in humans and insects, the same potentially deadly danger as asbestos, radon, and other gases - WHO (June, 2007).”
Why relevant

Quotes WHO saying 'exhaust fumes can cause cancer', implying exhaust contains carcinogenic compounds.

How to extend

Knowing benzene is a well-known carcinogen, a student could investigate whether known carcinogens in exhaust include benzene.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 23: India and Climate Change > 23.r3.r. Clean Air Initiatives > p. 315
Strength: 4/5
“• In urban areas, one of the major sources of air pollution is emissions from transport vehicles. • Steps taken to reduce such pollution include: • (i) introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) in Delhi and other cities; • (ii) retiring old, polluting vehicles; and • (iii) strengthening of mass transportation. Some state governments provide subsidies for purchase and use of electric vehicles. For thermal power plants, the installation of electrostatic precipitators is mandatory.”
Why relevant

Identifies transport vehicle emissions as a major urban air-pollution source and describes policy to reduce vehicle emissions.

How to extend

A student could take that vehicles are major pollutant sources and look up typical pollutants emitted by vehicles (including specific VOCs like benzene).

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Control measuresi > p. 69
Strength: 3/5
“• (i) destroying the pollutants by thermal or catalytic combustion • (ii) conversion of the pollutants to a less toxic form • (iii) collection of the pollutant Different types of air pollutants can be eliminated / minimized by following methods: • a) Control of particulate matter: Two types of devices - arresters and scrubbers are used to remove particulate pollutants from air. These are arresters and scrubbers. i. Arresters: These are used to separate particulate The gaseous pollutants can be controlled through the techniques of Combustion, absorption and adsorption' • c) Control of Automobile Exhaust • i. use of efficient engines (e.”
Why relevant

Discusses 'Control of Automobile Exhaust' and gaseous pollutant control (combustion, adsorption), implying vehicles emit gaseous toxicants.

How to extend

Given vehicles emit gaseous pollutants, a student could seek emission inventories or speciation studies listing which gaseous organics (e.g., benzene) are present in exhaust.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > First > p. 101
Strength: 3/5
“• o Pollution inventory and apportionment studies that assess relative contribution of different sources are looked at in isolation and not within a coherent framework of health protection. • r What ultimately should drive policy is not just what source is emitting more but which source is Iikely to feed to a greater exposure to health damaging'pollutants. • r Globally, studies show vehicles contribute from a quarter to ciose to half of the particulates in cities.”
Why relevant

Notes that vehicles contribute substantially to urban particulates and are a key source in cities, showing vehicles are major contributors to urban air contamination.

How to extend

A student could combine this with knowledge that traffic sources emit both particulates and VOCs, then check VOC composition for benzene.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2020 · Q58 Relevance score: 7.54

Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? 1. Automobile exhaust 2. Tobacco smoke 3. Wood burning 4. Using varnished wooden furniture 5. Using products made of polyurethane Select the correct answer using the code given below:

NDA-I · 2016 · Q9 Relevance score: -1.03

One of the main causes of air pollution in cities is emissions from vehicles like cars and trucks. Cars emit various pollutants which are bad for human health when inhaled, like 1. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 2. Carbon monoxide (CO) 3. Carbon dioxide (C02) . 4. Benzene Which of the above pollutants are not tolerated by human beings even at very low levels ?

CDS-I · 2008 · Q84 Relevance score: -2.53

Consider the following statements 1. Cigarette smoking exposes a person to benzene. 2. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-II · 2007 · Q17 Relevance score: -2.53

Consider the following statements 1. Cigarette smoking exposes a person to benzene. 2. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

IAS · 2021 · Q45 Relevance score: -3.85

Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following? 1. Brakes of motor vehicles 2. Engines of motor vehicles 3. Microwave stoves within homes 4. Power plants 5. Telephone lines Select the correct answer using the code given below.