Contaminant

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-002487",
  "term": "Contaminant",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "Any chemical, physical, or biological agent unintentionally introduced into a material or environment where it is not naturally found. The presence of a contaminant does not inherently imply that it causes harm or adverse effects. A substance is only considered a pollutant, a distinct term, when its concentration is high enough to produce a detrimental impact on an organism, population, or ecosystem.",
  "subject": "Chemistry and Human Health",
  "see_also": [
    "pollutant"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2009, 81, 829. 'Glossary of terms used in ecotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2009)' on page 861 (https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-08-07-09)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/contaminant/"
}