{"id":317,"date":"2026-05-27T11:14:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/sustainabilityprinciplesandpractice\/?page_id=317"},"modified":"2026-05-27T11:14:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T11:14:35","slug":"pollution","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/sustainabilityprinciplesandpractice\/pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
acid rain<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Precipitation containing higher than normal amounts of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, formed when natural rainwater combines with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted by burning of fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
aerobic<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Living systems or processes that occur in the presence of oxygen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
aerosol<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Minute solid or liquid airborne particles that remain suspended in the atmosphere for at least several hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
allergen<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A substance that activates the body\u2019s immune system, causing a response when a response is not necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
anaerobic<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Living systems or processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
bioaccumulation<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The process in which the concentration of a substance taken in by an organism increases faster than the rate at which the organism can remove it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
bioaugmentation <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The addition of microorganisms to a polluted site to assist in bioremediation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A measure of organic content in water, given by the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by aquatic organisms as they break down organic matter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
biomagnification<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The process in which the concentration of a substance increases as it passes to successively higher trophic levels of a food web.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
bioremediation<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The use of microorganisms to break down pollutants in soil or water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
brownfield<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
An abandoned or under-used industrial site in which redevelopment or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous material.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
cancer cluster<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A greater-than-expected number of cancer cases in a particular location, usually associated with exposures to toxins in the workplace.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
carcinogen<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A substance known to increase the risk of developing cancer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
conventional pollutants <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Major water pollutants regulated by the U.S. Clean Water Act: biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, fecal coliform bacteria, pH, and oil and grease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
criteria pollutants<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Major air pollutants regulated by the U.S. Clean Air Act: particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, lead, and ground-level ozone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
endocrine disruptor<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A pollutant that interferes with normal hormone functions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
eutrophication<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Accelerated plant growth and decay in aquatic environments caused by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution and resulting in oxygen depletion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
fate<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The description of how a pollutant changes over time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
fecal coliform bacteria<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A group of bacteria found in the feces of humans and other animals which are used as indicators of disease-causing bacteria.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
greenfield <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Open space that has never been built upon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A list of chemicals identified by the EPA which are considered particularly dangerous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
hyperaccumulator <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A plant which can accumulate larger amounts of micronutrients than most other plants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
microplastic<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Particles of synthetic plastic which are smaller than a few millimeters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
mutagen<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A substance which damages genetic material, or DNA, in cells.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
mycoremediation<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The use of fungi to break down contaminants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
nanoplastic<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Particles of synthetic plastic which are smaller than a few micrometers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
neurotoxin <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A toxin that damages the nervous system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
nonpoint source<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A diffuse source of pollutants that cannot be tied to a specific point of origin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
off-gassing<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The emission of volatile organic compounds from synthetic and natural products.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
particulate material<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Matter in the form of fine solid particles or liquid droplets small enough to be suspended in air or water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
persistence<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The property of a substance which lasts a long time without changing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
persistent organic pollutant <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A class of organic chemicals that remain unchanged for long periods of time, accumulate in the food chain, and are toxic to humans and other animals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
pesticide<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A synthetic substance designed to kill unwanted organisms; categories of pesticides include insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, and fungicides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
pH<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A scale which indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity, based on a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
phytoremediation <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The use of plants to treat pollutants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
point source<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A source of pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
pollution<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The accumulation of substances with adverse effects on the health of living organisms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
ppb<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Parts per billion; the number of parts of a chemical found in one billion parts of a particular gas, liquid, or solid mixture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
ppm<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Parts per million; the number of parts of a chemical found in one million parts of a particular gas, liquid, or solid mixture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
radioactivity <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The emission of atomic particles as atomic nuclei decay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
remediation<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The process of cleaning up a polluted site using physical, chemical or biological means.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
smog<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Air pollution formed by the interaction of pollutants and sunlight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
teratogen<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A substance which causes abnormalities in developing embryos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
thermal pollution <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
An unhealthy change in water temperature.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
total suspended solids<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Fine particles suspended in water, too small to be removed by settling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
toxicant<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A substance that is harmful to living organisms. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
toxin<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A toxicant produced by a living organism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
transport<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The ways in which a pollutant moves through the environment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
turbidity<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A measure of water clarity resulting from suspended particles which block light.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/button>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n