Formaldehyde Is a Simple Organic Molecule with Important Industrial Uses;

question 35

Multiple Choice

Formaldehyde is a simple organic molecule with important industrial uses; however it is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing compound) . Researchers have long known that formaldehyde is present in cigarette smoke, but it was only recently in 2014 that researchers determined that formaldehyde is also present in e-cigarette vapor. For this and other reasons, the U.S. FDA is now overseeing production and distribution of e-cigarettes.
The data below are compiled from several studies examining the levels of formaldehyde in cigarette smoke and low- and high-voltage e-cigarette vapor (increasing the voltage of an e-cigarette allows for increased nicotine intake) . The data in bar A are from individuals consuming 20 cigarettes a day. The data in bar B are from individuals consuming 3 mL of e-cigarette fluid a day when the e-cigarette is set to low voltage (n.d. = not detectable) . The data in bar C are from individuals consuming 3 mL of e-cigarette fluid a day when the e-cigarette is set to high voltage.
-What can you conclude from these data?

• A) Smoking cigarettes results in the highest daily intake of formaldehyde.
• B) E-cigarettes cause cancer.
• C) The researchers did not conduct any studies with low-voltage e-cigarettes.
• D) High-voltage e-cigarettes yield the highest daily amount of formaldehyde.

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Definitions:

Mass

A measurement of the amount of matter that an object contains.

Sample

A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like, used for analysis or investigation.

Comparison Measurement

A method in science and engineering to determine the difference in magnitude or quantity between two variables or systems.

Accurate

The level of agreement between the outcome of a measurement, calculation, or specification and the correct value or a norm.