Toxic pollution

Pollution by toxic substances which may, depending on their content, seriously and/or on a long-term basis, affect living organisms. These substances can lead to a deferred or immediate death, to reproductive disorders, or significant disruption of biological functions (e.g. reproductive disorders). The main toxic substances encountered in the environment during chronic or acute pollution are generally heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, etc), halogens (chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine), complex organic molecules of synthetic (pesticides, etc) or natural origin (hydrocarbons).