adulterants
Substances degrading purity
Adulterants are substances added to products to dilute, cheapen, or contaminate them.
The term appears most often in contexts of food safety, drug purity, and regulatory enforcement: The lab tested for adulterants in the milk supply.
Street drugs commonly contain adulterants that range from harmless fillers to dangerous toxins.
The singular adulterant describes any single contaminating substance.
Bulk-adding substances
- extendersItems that add length
- cutSeverance or reduction
- stretchersFrames for carrying casualties
- diluentsSubstances that reduce concentration
thinning · weakening · lactose · starch · talc · sawdust · chalk · sand
Harmful biological substances
- pollutantsHarmful environmental substances
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
- arsenicToxic metalloid element
cadmium · pesticides · carcinogens · asbestos · dioxins · phthalates · pathogens · bacteria
Fraudulent imitation
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- mislabelingIncorrect identification marking
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- tamperingImproper interference with something
doctoring · spiking · deception · forgery · misrepresentation · imitation · horsemeat
fillers
Bulk-adding substances
- extendersItems that add length
- cutSeverance or reduction
- stretchersFrames for carrying casualties
diluents · thinning · weakening · lactose · starch · talc · sawdust · chalk · sand · cellulose
toxins
Harmful biological substances
- pollutantsHarmful environmental substances
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
arsenic · cadmium · pesticides · carcinogens · asbestos · dioxins · phthalates · pathogens · bacteria · melamine
counterfeit
Fraudulent imitation
- substitutionExchange of one for another
- mislabelingIncorrect identification marking
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
tampering · doctoring · spiking · deception · forgery · misrepresentation · imitation · horsemeat
adulterantspurifiers
Things that cleanse substances
natural ingredients · active ingredients · fortifiers · enrichments · supplements