Abstract
It can be argued that all matter in one form or another can become a contaminant when found out of its usual environment or at concentrations above normal. However, chemical contaminants become pollutants when accumulations are sufficient to adversely affect the environment or to pose a risk to living organisms. Today, there are thousands of industrial chemicals that can be dangerous to humans and the environment. Fortunately, many of these chemicals are not produced in large enough quantities to be a human or environmental threat. However, there are many other human-made and natural chemicals that are toxic and are produced in sufficient quantities to be a potential environmental or human health hazard. Thus the production, storage, transport, and disposal of these chemicals are regulated by government agencies. There are numerous sources of chemical contaminants released to the environment, but these generally fall into a few general categories. This chapter will present an overview of the various types of chemical contaminants and their sources.
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