Pollutants
Pollutants
Pollutants (/pəˈluːtənts/) are substances or energy introduced into the environment that cause adverse effects. They can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but they are primarily associated with human activity. Pollutants can harm life forms and affect the environment by altering growth rates in plant species, disrupting ecosystems, and damaging amenities such as clean water and air.
Etymology
The term "pollutant" originates from the Latin word "polluere," which means "to soil, defile, or contaminate."
Types of Pollutants
Pollutants can be classified into two main categories: Biodegradable Pollutants and Non-Biodegradable Pollutants.
- Biodegradable Pollutants are substances that can be broken down by natural processes and converted into less harmful substances. Examples include sewage, food waste, and paper waste.
- Non-Biodegradable Pollutants are substances that cannot be broken down by natural processes and thus remain in the environment for a long time. Examples include plastics, glass, and heavy metals.
Related Terms
- Air Pollution - The introduction of harmful substances into the Earth's atmosphere.
- Water Pollution - The contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities.
- Soil Pollution - The presence of toxic chemicals in soil, in high enough levels to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem.
- Noise Pollution - The propagation of noise with harmful impact on the activity of human or animal life.
- Thermal Pollution - The harmful release of heated liquid into a body of water or heat released into the air as a waste product of a business.
- Light Pollution - The brightening of the night sky caused by street lights and other man-made sources, which has a disruptive effect on natural cycles and inhibits the observation of stars and planets.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pollutants
- Wikipedia's article - Pollutants
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