pollutant

American  

[puh-loot-nt] / pəˈlut nt /

noun

1. something that pollutes.

2. any substance, as certain chemicals or waste products, that renders the air, soil, water, or other natural resource harmful or unsuitable for a specific purpose.

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pollutant British  

/ pəˈluːtənt /

noun

1. a substance that pollutes, esp a chemical or similar substance that is produced as a waste product of an industrial process

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pollutant Scientific  

/ pə-lo̅o̅t′nt /

1. A substance or condition that contaminates air, water, or soil. Pollutants can be artificial substances, such as pesticides and PCBs, or naturally occurring substances, such as oil or carbon dioxide, that occur in harmful concentrations in a given environment. Heat transmitted to natural waterways through warm-water discharge from power plants and uncontained radioactivity from nuclear wastes are also considered pollutants.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpollutant adjective

Etymology

Origin of pollutant

First recorded in 1890–95; pollute + -ant

Example Sentences

When gut bacteria are exposed to these chemical pollutants, some change how they function in an attempt to survive.

From Science Daily

MPs DOM is largely made up of small, biologically accessible molecules that may stimulate or suppress microbial growth, disrupt nutrient cycles, or interact with metals and other pollutants.

From Science Daily

These plumes lift potentially harmful chemicals, aerosol pollutants, and water vapor hundreds of feet into the air -- all factors that can enhance warming.

From Science Daily

The wells “continue to leak toxic pollutants into the air, land, and water and present unacceptable dangers to human health, safety, and the environment,” the complaint says.

From Los Angeles Times

This pollutant has been associated with asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, preterm birth, diabetes, and lung cancer.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• poison
• pollution
• toxic waste
• toxin