| Description: Over the last century, global industrialization, war, and natural processes have resulted in the release of large amounts of toxic compounds into the biosphere. Pollutants fall into two main classes: inorganic and organic. Inorganic pollutants comprise heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead; nonmetallic compounds like arsenic; and radioactive nuclear waste. Organic contaminants include petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, phenolic compounds, explosives, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. |
