| Categorisation |
A chemist might categorise these into organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, (i.e. those containing carbon and those which do not). An environmentalist might classify the list according to the medium that the pollutants are usually associated with, i.e. water, earth, air, and there is no particular right or wrong answer. Table 3.0 below indicates how the list would be classified based on some commonly recognised pollutant groups. |
|
Pollutant Group |
Pollutant | Comments |
| Organic | Polychlorinated biphenyls |
Known as PCBs, their production was banned in the 1970Ęs, slow to break down they are still found in high concentrations in certain areas. |
| Dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane | DDT, insecticide banned in many western countries, still used in the third world to kill malaria carrying mosquito. | |
| Benzene | A volatile organic solvent (VOC) used in petrol. | |
| Oil | Found in many environments, its processing provides the fundamental base for the manufacture of a huge range of chemicals. | |
| Freon | Used as a refrigerant, this is an example of a Chlorofluorocarbon, CFC, considered to be major substances causing the ozone hole. | |
| Organometallic | Tri-Butyl-tin | Material used in marine anti-fouling paints, i.e. to reduce mollusk attachment to ships hull. |
| Methyl Mercury | Produced by action of microbes with mercury | |
| Inorganic | Nitrogen dioxide | One of the elements involved in "Acid rain" formation. |
| Mercury | Metal nerve toxin | |
| Lead | Metal added to petrol to improve lubrication. | |
| Sulphur dioxide | Main component of "Acid rain" | |
| Ozone | Can be produced by lightning during | |
| Physical/Particulate | Carbon (soot) | |
| Heat | ||
| Asbestos | Found in older buildings used for fire protection and thermal insulation, exists in three forms, known as, white, brown and blue. | |
| Radiological | Radon | Naturally occurring radioactive gas |
| Biological |
Cryptosporidium |
Water-borne parasite |
| Coliform Bacteria | Often found in sewage |