Weekly health quiz: Pollution, exercise and smartphones

1 For optimal health benefits, the following omega-3 source is the best:

• Omega-3-rich plant foods such as flaxseed, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts and leafy greens
• Small, fatty fish such as sardines, anchovies and herring

  In fish, the DHA and EPA are in the form of triglycerides, which are the most bioavailable. In most fish oil supplements, the DHA and EPA are delivered in the form of ethyl esters — a synthetic substrate with low bioavailability. To reap maximum health benefits, you want a majority of your omega-3 to come from your diet. That means eating small fatty fish such as sardines, anchovies, mackerel and herring. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon is another good source. Learn more.

• Fish oil supplements
• Krill oil supplements

2 Which of the following journalists was targeted by Monsanto in "Project Spruce" — an effort to prevent negative press?

• Tamar Haspel
• Sharyl Attkisson
• Carey Gillam

  Documents obtained during the discovery process of lawsuits against Monsanto reveal the company has been engaged in a coordinated campaign to discredit critics, among them, journalist Carey Gillam. Monsanto's plan to discredit her book, "White Wash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science," was dubbed "Project Spruce." Learn more.

• Paul Thacker

3 The following has been identified as a source of soil and water pollution with per- and polyfluoroalykyl substances, so-called "forever chemicals":

• Paper shopping bags
• Reusable aluminum bottles and thermoses
• Glass containers of all kinds
• Food wrappers and takeout containers, including biodegradable and compostable bowls and containers

  One source of environmental contamination is PFAS-treated food wrappers and containers. Testing reveals all so-called "biodegradable" food containers contain PFAS, making them unsuitable for composting. Learn more.

4 In addition to beta endorphins, exercise also triggers the release of the following mood-boosting substance:

• Anandamide

  While exercise euphoria is typically attributed to the release of endorphins, vigorous exercise also dramatically increases anandamide — an endocannabinoid — in the body, which influences opioid and endorphin receptors. The higher your anandamide level, the better you feel. Learn more.

• Cortisol
• Kynurenine
• Adrenaline

5 Cover crops are used to:

• Lengthen the growing season
• Reduce soil erosion, improve soil biodiversity and suppress weed growth

  Cover crops are used to manage soil erosion, suppress weeds, build soil fertility and help promote soil biodiversity. Learn more.

• Feed wildlife during the winter
• Reduce the growth of microorganisms in the soil

6 The addictive potential of your smartphone is the result of:

• Poor willpower
• Mental instability
• Coordinated science-based strategies that tap into human psychology

  Silicon Valley companies use artificial intelligence and neuroscience to create more engaging and persuasive apps, maximizing the addictive potential of your smartphone. Learn more.

• Social awkwardness

7 Which continent banned dental amalgam for children under 15 and pregnant/nursing women, effective July 1, 2018?

• Africa
• United States
• South America
• European Union

  The European Union enacted a ban on the use of dental amalgam fillings in children under the age of 15, and in pregnant and breastfeeding women, effective July 1, 2018. Learn more.