Pollution

Deterioration of the environment by chemical, physical or organic substances that cannot (or cannot anymore) be eliminated naturally by the ecosystem. Pollution is mainly caused by human activity. It is the result of the introduction into the environment of an artificial substance which is non-degradable or which exceeds the limit amount tolerated by the environment. Pollution may contribute to or cause: a threat to human health, deterioration of biological resources, ecosystems or property, a hindrance to a legitimate use of the environment. An adjective is often associated with the term "pollution", so we speak about: historical pollution, new pollution, residual pollution, chronic pollution, non-point source pollution, dispersed pollution, point source pollution, accidental pollution, toxic pollution, etc.