ABBU

A pollutant is a substance or energy introduced into the

environment that has undesired effects, or adversely affects the
usefulness of a resource.

A pollutant may cause long- or short-term damage by changing the growth rate
of plant or animal species, or by interfering with human amenities, comfort,

health, or property values. Some pollutants are biodegradable and therefore will
not persist in the environment in the long term.

Dredged spoil

Solid waste

Incinerator residue
Filter backwash
Sewage sludge
Munitions
Chemical wastes
Biological materials
Radioactive materials

Industrial

Municipal
Agricultural waste discharged into water.

A dredger (or dredge as is the

general usage in the Americas) is
any device, machine, or vessel that
is used to excavate and remove
material from the bottom of a body
of water

The definition of solid waste is any unwanted

or discarded material that is not a liquid or a
gas. It can include organic waste, paper,
metals, glass, cloth, brick and rock, yard
waste and wood.

Incineration is a waste treatment process

that involves the combustion of organic
substances contained in waste materials.

Filters are employed to remove

particles from liquids. Water treatment
filters that can be backwashed include
rapid sand filters, pressure filters and
granular activated carbon (GAC) filters

Sewage

sludge

treatment describes
the processes used
to

manage

and

dispose

of

sludges

produced

during
treatment.

the

sewage

War materiel, especially weapons and ammunition. Often used in the plural.

Chemical waste is a waste that is made

from harmful chemicals

Any material containing genetic information and capable of

reproducing itself or being reproduced in a biological system.

Radioactive Materials (TENORM) consist of materials, usually industrial wastes or by-

products enriched with radioactive elements found in the environment, such as

uranium, thorium and potassium and any of their decay products, such as radium and
radon.

POLLUTANT
Oxygen
demanding wastes

Plant
nutrients

Major sources
Sewage effluent, Agriculture
run off including animal
wastes; some industrial
effluents (From paper mills,
food-processing., etc.)

Sewage effluents including

phosphates from detergents;
agricultural
run
off,
especially nitrates from
fertilizers.

Effects
Decomposition by aerobic bacteria
depletes of dissolved oxygen in water; flora
and fauna perish; farther decomposition
by aerobic bacterial produces foul-smelling
toxic substances such as hydrogen
sulphide.

Algal blooms; death of submerged

vegetation; production of large amounts
of dead organic matter with subsequent
problems of oxygen depletion

POLLUTANT
Acids

Toxic metals
Hg, Pb, Cd, Zn,
Sn.

Major sources
Acid rains; mine drainage;
planting of extensive areas of
coniferous forests which
acidify the soil.

Ore
mining;
associated
industries; lead from vehicle
exhaust emission.

Effects
Acidification of natural
wastes; sharp decline
species
riches;
concomitant increase in
level of toxic metals in
solution, eg. aluminium.

Bio magnification of toxic

metal with each successive
stage of food chain; threat
to consumers including
humans.

POLLUTANT
Oil

DDT (an organ

chlorine)

PCBs

Major sources
Drilling operations; oil tankersspills; natural seepage; waste
disposal.
Direct application; agricultural
run off and via aerial cropspraying

Sewage effluent; land fill sites

Effects
Contamination of the aquatic
environment, death of birds
and mammals.

Bio
magnification;
top
carnivores (especially birds) at
risk; very persistent in the
environment.
Biomagnifications;
top
carnivores at risk; effects on
human health include joint
pain, chlorance and fatigue.

POLLUTANT

Radiation

Heat

Major sources

0% natural sources; 20% from

nuclear
weapons
testing,
medical X-rays, nuclear energy
industry, etc.

Coolants from industry,

principally the electricity
generating industry.

Effects

Degree of tissue damage and

risk of death depended on
exposure; radio nuclides can
be biomagnified, and some
are very persistent in the
environment.

Change in species composition

usually accompanied; fish may
migrate or be killed by
suffocation; reproductive cycle
of fish and other aquatic
organism disrupted.