What word replaces XXX?

XXX are side effects of an activity which affect other people. They can be either positive or negative. Negative XXX include activities by organisations that cause environmental damage, for example, emission of harmful gases from vehicles, or dumping of chemical waste into the sea. The cost of remedying, where remedies are undertaken, does not fall on the original polluter, but rest with society at large.

What word replaces XXX?
A . Externalities
B . Penalties
C . Superficialities
D . Internalisations

Answer: A

Explanation:

Externalities.

This appears to be an increasingly-important topic of news stories. For example, in the UK much has recently been made of allegations of water companies dumping untreated sewage into rivers. The reality of the extent to which this is happening is unclear to me. See if you can think of other examples in your own area.

(L3M6)