Is there anything toxic lurking in your PC?

Pollution is a growing problem in our increasingly chemical-dependent world.

Concerns range from food scares and asthma to species loss and mountains of toxic waste.

How much do you know about the knock-on effects of the everyday substances around you?

Question 1

British women who might one day want to have a baby are advised to consume no more than two portions a week of a particular food because of certain pollutants. What food is it?

A: Shellfish B: Oily fish C: Pre-packaged spinach and lettuce D: Eggs

Question 2

Which of the following chemicals are NOT contained in an ordinary computer and monitor?

A: Lead B: Mercury C: Arsenic D: Brominated flame retardants E: Dioxins

Question 3

The use of chlorine to bleach paper has been criticised as being highly polluting - but what environmental drawback does "totally chlorine-free" paper have?

A: It uses different chemicals - but they create similar levels of pollution B: It takes twice as much water to make it C: It can't be made using recycled paper D: It can only be made from certain types of trees

Question 4

A third of male fish in British rivers are thought to be in the process of changing sex. What do experts blame?

A: Nothing - the story was an April Fool's Day hoax in a British newspaper B: Hormones in sewage - including those from the female contraceptive pill C: Hormones fed to farmed trout to make them more fertile D: Radioactive waste which is interfering with fish DNA

Question 5

Gold jewellery remains popular - but which of these harmful chemicals is NOT a pollutant commonly associated with mining the precious metal?

A: Mercury B: Benzene C: Sulphuric acid D: Cyanide

Question 6

Many detergents and laundry powders contain phosphates - why are environmentalists trying to get these phased out?

A: They may create antibiotic resistance B: They can over-stimulate plant growth C: They can cause the salinisation of farm land D: They are poisonous to bird and plant life

Question 7

Leaded petrol is one of the world's major sources of urban air pollution. Although phased out in most developed countries, it remains widespread in developing countries. What does lead poisoning cause?

A: Brain damage B: Liver damage C: Hearing loss D: All of the above

Question 8

A pesticide once widely used on US lawns and gardens is currently being phased out - to which type of chemical weapon is it chemically similar?

A: Blister agents such as mustard gas B: Nerve agents such as sarin C: Blood agents such as hydrogen cyanide D: None - no pesticides are similar to chemical weapons

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