Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What is a point source of air pollution?

1. A smoke stack.

2. The number of cars and trucks.

3. How much fossil fuel is consumed in a community.

4. Ground ozone levels.

The correct answer is: A smoke stack.

A point source of air pollution refers to a single, identifiable source of pollution that discharges pollutants into the air at a specific location. This is well-illustrated by a smoke stack, which releases emissions from a factory or industrial operation into the atmosphere. The distinct characteristics of a point source include its specific location and the ability to track the emissions back to that one source. In contrast, the other options describe forms of air pollution that are more diffuse or collective in nature. For instance, the total number of cars and trucks contributes to air pollution, but it does so through various individual emissions rather than from a single point. Similarly, fossil fuel consumption in a community represents an overall activity that results in emissions without pinpointing a specific location. Ground ozone levels are related to pollution but do not represent a source themselves; instead, they are a product of air pollution that can result from numerous sources interacting together, including vehicle emissions and industrial discharges. Thus, the concept of a point source clearly aligns with the function and definition illustrated by a smoke stack.