environmental toxins
Dangerous surrounding substances
Environmental toxins are harmful substances in the surroundings that can damage living organisms.
The term covers pollutants in air, water, and soil—industrial chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and similar contaminants.
In popular health discourse, environmental toxins often appears more loosely to include anything perceived as unnatural or harmful: The detox claims to flush environmental toxins from your body.
Scientists generally prefer more precise terminology.
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
- dioxinsToxic chlorinated organic compounds
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
arsenic · bioaccumulation · radiation · microplastics · PFAS · Superfund sites · respiratory diseases · sick building syndrome · PCBs · forever chemicals · industrial emissions · air quality · radon gas · agricultural runoff · birth defects · cancer clusters · cadmium · benzene
- toxinsendotoxin, exotoxin, biotoxins, endotoxins, cytotoxin
- air pollutionsmog, air pollution, emissions, air pollutants, pollutants
- toxicologytoxicology, poison, venom, toxicity, poisons
- birth defectsbirth defect, birth defects, malformation, cleft lip, cleft palate
- cardiotoxicityarrhythmia, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis
- health geographymedical deserts, health disparities, geographic variation, endemic disease, disease clusters
environmental toxinsessential nutrients
Required dietary components
nutrients · micronutrients · nourishment · vitamins · minerals
environmental toxinsclean air
Uncontaminated breathable gas
pure water · pristine environment · fresh air · potable water · natural purity
environmental toxinsnatural compounds
Chemicals from biological sources
natural substances · clean water · fresh air · organic matter · natural resources