Environmental harm from hazardous materials includes which of the following?

Environmental harm from hazardous materials includes which of the following?

• A. Polluting water, air, and land and harming wildlife and domestic animals
• B. Increasing soil nutrients
• C. Improving air quality
• D. Decreasing water use

Answer: (A)

Hazardous materials cause environmental harm by contaminating multiple parts of the ecosystem—water, air, and soil—and by harming wildlife and domestic animals that come into contact with or ingest these substances. A spill or improper disposal can taint streams and groundwater, release toxic fumes or vapors, and leave contaminated soil that affects plants, insects, and animals for years. This broad, ecosystem-wide impact is why the statement about polluting water, air, and land and harming wildlife and domestic animals best describes environmental harm from hazardous materials. The other options describe beneficial or neutral outcomes (more nutrients, better air quality, less water use) that do not reflect the harmful effects involved.

Hazardous materials cause environmental harm by contaminating multiple parts of the ecosystem—water, air, and soil—and by harming wildlife and domestic animals that come into contact with or ingest these substances. A spill or improper disposal can taint streams and groundwater, release toxic fumes or vapors, and leave contaminated soil that affects plants, insects, and animals for years. This broad, ecosystem-wide impact is why the statement about polluting water, air, and land and harming wildlife and domestic animals best describes environmental harm from hazardous materials. The other options describe beneficial or neutral outcomes (more nutrients, better air quality, less water use) that do not reflect the harmful effects involved.