Water Distribution Grade 1 Certification Practice Exam

What effect does chlorine gas have on the sense of smell?

1. Enhances odor sensitivity

2. Produces olfactory fatigue

3. Eliminates sense of smell

4. Causes headaches

The correct answer is: Produces olfactory fatigue

Chlorine gas can lead to olfactory fatigue, which is the temporary reduction in sensitivity to odors after prolonged exposure to a certain smell. When one is exposed to chlorine gas, the strong and pungent nature of its odor can overwhelm the olfactory receptors in the nose, causing the brain to become less sensitive to that specific smell over time. This means that after an initial strong perception of the odor, a person may find they no longer detect it as strongly, or at all, even though it is still present in the environment. The context of the other choices is important for understanding the specific effects of chlorine gas: enhancing odor sensitivity would imply an increase in the ability to detect smells, which is not the case with exposure to strong odors like chlorine. Eliminating the sense of smell altogether suggests a complete loss of olfactory function, which does not accurately describe the phenomenon caused by chlorine. Lastly, while chlorine exposure can indeed cause irritation and discomfort, including headaches, this is not its primary effect on the sense of smell and relates more to general health impacts rather than a direct impact on olfactory perception.