FEMA IS-0005.A UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
absorption - CORRECT ANSWER - The passing of a substance into the circulatory
system of the body. Also used specifically to refer to entry of toxicants through the skin.
ACGIH - CORRECT ANSWER - American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienist
Acute Exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - An exposure to a toxic substance which occurs
in a short or single time period.
Acute toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER - Any poisonous effect produced by a single short-
term exposure. The LD50 of a substance (the lethal dose at which 50 percent of test animals
succumb to the toxicity of the chemicals) is typically used as a measure of its acute toxicity
additive effect - CORRECT ANSWER - A biological response to exposure to multiple
chemicals which is equal to the sum of the effects of the individual agents
Adsorption - CORRECT ANSWER - The bonding of chemicals to soil particles or other
surfaces.
aerosal - CORRECT ANSWER - A solid particle or liquid droplet suspended in air. An
aerosol is larger than a molecule and can be filtered from the air
antagonism - CORRECT ANSWER - The situation in which two chemicals interfere with
each other's actions, or one chemical interferes with the action of the other.
aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER - An underground bed, or layer, of earth, gravel, or porous
storage that contains water
,asphyxiants - CORRECT ANSWER - Chemicals that starve the cells of an individual from
the life-giving oxygen needed to sustain metabolism
biodegradable - CORRECT ANSWER - Capable of decomposing quickly through the
action of microorganisms.
biomagnification - CORRECT ANSWER - The tendency of certain chemicals to become
concentrated as they move into and up the food chain
boiling point - CORRECT ANSWER - The temperature at which a liquid will start to
become a gas, and boil. A chemical with a low boiling point can boil and evaporate quickly. If a
material that is flammable also has a low boiling point, a special fire hazard exists.
carcinogen - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical or physical agent that encourages cells to
develop cancer.
central nervous system depressants - CORRECT ANSWER - Toxicants that deaden the
central nervous system (CNS), diminishing sensation
CERCLA - CORRECT ANSWER - The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980—the Federal statute that authorized "Superfund."
Administered by EPA, the law provides funding for cleanups and emergency response actions
for hazardous substances at the worst hazardous waste sites in the United States. CERCLA is
also significant because it set the first criteria for notification of emergencies involving
hazardous substances. Superfund regulates abandoned waste disposal sites; for active disposal
site regulation, see RCRA.
CHEMTREC - CORRECT ANSWER - Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, a
service operated by the Chemical Manufacturers Association to provide information and other
assistance to emergency responders
chronic exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - Process by which small amounts of toxic
substances are taken into the body over an extended period
, command post - CORRECT ANSWER - A centralized base of operations established near
the site of a hazardous materials incident.
corrosive - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical that destroys or irreversibly alters living
tissue by direct chemical action at the site of contact.
decontamination - CORRECT ANSWER - The process of removing or neutralizing
contaminants that have accumulated on personnel and equipment. This process is critical to
health and safety at hazardous waste incidents
dermal exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - Exposure to toxic substances by entry though
the skin.
dose - CORRECT ANSWER - The quantity of a chemical absorbed and available for
interaction with metabolic processes
epidemiology studies - CORRECT ANSWER - Investigation of factors contributing to
disease or toxic effects in the general population
evaporation rate - CORRECT ANSWER - The rate at which a chemical changes into a
vapor. A chemical that evaporates quickly can be a more dangerous fire or health hazard.
exercise - CORRECT ANSWER - A simulated emergency condition carried out for the
purpose of testing and evaluating the readiness of a community or organization to handle a
particular type of emergency.
explosive - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous
release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high
temperatures.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
absorption - CORRECT ANSWER - The passing of a substance into the circulatory
system of the body. Also used specifically to refer to entry of toxicants through the skin.
ACGIH - CORRECT ANSWER - American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienist
Acute Exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - An exposure to a toxic substance which occurs
in a short or single time period.
Acute toxicity - CORRECT ANSWER - Any poisonous effect produced by a single short-
term exposure. The LD50 of a substance (the lethal dose at which 50 percent of test animals
succumb to the toxicity of the chemicals) is typically used as a measure of its acute toxicity
additive effect - CORRECT ANSWER - A biological response to exposure to multiple
chemicals which is equal to the sum of the effects of the individual agents
Adsorption - CORRECT ANSWER - The bonding of chemicals to soil particles or other
surfaces.
aerosal - CORRECT ANSWER - A solid particle or liquid droplet suspended in air. An
aerosol is larger than a molecule and can be filtered from the air
antagonism - CORRECT ANSWER - The situation in which two chemicals interfere with
each other's actions, or one chemical interferes with the action of the other.
aquifer - CORRECT ANSWER - An underground bed, or layer, of earth, gravel, or porous
storage that contains water
,asphyxiants - CORRECT ANSWER - Chemicals that starve the cells of an individual from
the life-giving oxygen needed to sustain metabolism
biodegradable - CORRECT ANSWER - Capable of decomposing quickly through the
action of microorganisms.
biomagnification - CORRECT ANSWER - The tendency of certain chemicals to become
concentrated as they move into and up the food chain
boiling point - CORRECT ANSWER - The temperature at which a liquid will start to
become a gas, and boil. A chemical with a low boiling point can boil and evaporate quickly. If a
material that is flammable also has a low boiling point, a special fire hazard exists.
carcinogen - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical or physical agent that encourages cells to
develop cancer.
central nervous system depressants - CORRECT ANSWER - Toxicants that deaden the
central nervous system (CNS), diminishing sensation
CERCLA - CORRECT ANSWER - The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980—the Federal statute that authorized "Superfund."
Administered by EPA, the law provides funding for cleanups and emergency response actions
for hazardous substances at the worst hazardous waste sites in the United States. CERCLA is
also significant because it set the first criteria for notification of emergencies involving
hazardous substances. Superfund regulates abandoned waste disposal sites; for active disposal
site regulation, see RCRA.
CHEMTREC - CORRECT ANSWER - Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, a
service operated by the Chemical Manufacturers Association to provide information and other
assistance to emergency responders
chronic exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - Process by which small amounts of toxic
substances are taken into the body over an extended period
, command post - CORRECT ANSWER - A centralized base of operations established near
the site of a hazardous materials incident.
corrosive - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical that destroys or irreversibly alters living
tissue by direct chemical action at the site of contact.
decontamination - CORRECT ANSWER - The process of removing or neutralizing
contaminants that have accumulated on personnel and equipment. This process is critical to
health and safety at hazardous waste incidents
dermal exposure - CORRECT ANSWER - Exposure to toxic substances by entry though
the skin.
dose - CORRECT ANSWER - The quantity of a chemical absorbed and available for
interaction with metabolic processes
epidemiology studies - CORRECT ANSWER - Investigation of factors contributing to
disease or toxic effects in the general population
evaporation rate - CORRECT ANSWER - The rate at which a chemical changes into a
vapor. A chemical that evaporates quickly can be a more dangerous fire or health hazard.
exercise - CORRECT ANSWER - A simulated emergency condition carried out for the
purpose of testing and evaluating the readiness of a community or organization to handle a
particular type of emergency.
explosive - CORRECT ANSWER - A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous
release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high
temperatures.
