environmental contamination
Nature's toxic burden
Environmental contamination is the introduction of harmful substances into natural surroundings—soil, water, air, or ecosystems.
The term covers pollution from industrial waste, chemical spills, radioactive materials, or agricultural runoff: The factory was liable for environmental contamination of the groundwater.
Unlike general pollution, environmental contamination often implies measurable presence of specific toxins requiring remediation.
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
- wasteUnwanted discarded material
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
- oil spillPetroleum released into water
- chemical manufacturingIndustrial synthesis of compounds
heavy metals · lead paint · synthetic chemicals · bioaccumulation · microplastics · eutrophication · dead zone · spill · leachate · radioactive isotopes · smoke · air quality · dioxins · industrial waste · PCBs · biodiversity loss · pollution monitoring · agricultural runoff
- toxic hazardstoxic exposure, asbestos, arsenic, neurotoxins, benzene
- mercury pollutionmercury poisoning, mercury exposure, mercury vapor, methylmercury, Minamata disease
environmental contaminationpristine environment
Unspoiled natural area
pristine wilderness · ecological health · natural purity · clean air · pure water
environmental contaminationenvironmental restoration
Repairing degraded natural systems
environmental cleanup · decontamination · conservation · environmental protection · environmental stewardship
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