Which of the following best identifies an environmental risk factor?

• A. Genetic predisposition
• B. Behavioral choices
• C. Age of housing stock
• D. Income level

Answer: (C)

Environmental risk factors are features of the surroundings that can affect health, such as the physical condition of the places where people live. The age of housing stock points directly to the built environment people inhabit; older homes are more likely to have hazards like lead paint, asbestos, dampness and mold, or other structural risks that can harm health. These are exposures in the environment, not traits or choices of the individual.

Genetic predisposition is an inherited biological trait, not an environmental exposure. Behavioral choices are actions individuals take, which are personal behaviors rather than aspects of the environment. Income level can influence exposure by shaping living conditions, but the factor that most clearly represents an environmental exposure is the age of housing stock.