definitions
  • synonyms

toxic waste

A general term used to refer to chemical compounds produced by industry which, if they are ingested or breathed in by humans, can cause physiological damage. The disposal of toxic wastes is a major environmental problem in the United States.

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RELATED WORDS

poison, pollution

Nearby words

toxic nephrosis, toxic neuritis, toxic psychosis, toxic shock syndrome, toxic tetanus, toxic waste, toxicant, toxication, toxicity, toxico-, toxicodendron
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.