Soils and Pollution

Main Objectives

► Gain a basic understanding on the issue of pollution.
► Learn terminology used in literature dealing with pollution.

Key Terms and Concepts

Pollution (point source vs. non-point source)
The principle of microbial infallibility
Bioaccumulation
Biomagnification
Biological oxygen demand
Chemical oxygen demand

1. Defining the concept of pollution

A pollutant is any material that is harmful to lives and/or ecosystems once released into the environment (air, water or soil), and is the cause of pollution.

(1) Human factor; (2) The "destructive" or "degrading" aspect; (3) It is an ethical definition.
It is also an issue of balancing "production" with "decomposition."

Important Factors:

(1) Effect on humans (and other organisms)
(2) "destructive" or "degrading"
(3) Relevant to assumptions of value (such as staying alive)
(4) negative unintended consequences, often in unintended places