Types of Pollution and Pollutants

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and definitions from the lecture unit on pollution and pollutants.

Pollution

The contamination of earth's environment that contaminates and interferes with human health and ecosystem functioning.

Natural Pollution

Pollution caused by natural occurrences such as volcanoes, storms, floods, etc.

Pollutant

Material that pollutes the environment, categorized as either biodegradable or non-biodegradable.

Biodegradable Pollutants

Materials, like sewage, that quickly decompose by natural processes and cause problems only when released faster than the rate of their decomposition.

Non-biodegradable Pollutants

Pollutants that do not decompose in the soil or decompose very slowly, making them difficult to remove once added to the environment.

Plastic Pollution

A growing environmental concern that affects both land and water ecosystems.