MLchartDataset catalogue

Contaminant

Term · Environment · MLC-T-ENV-006336

  1. 1. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.

    2. Anything found in water (including microorganisms, minerals, chemicals, radionuclides, etc.) which may be harmful to human health.

    3. A contaminant is any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter present in any media at concentrations that may pose a threat to human health or the environment.

    4. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil.

    5. Anything that makes the water or land impure, unclean or polluted.

    6. Harmful or hazardous matter introduced into the environment.

    7. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance found in air, water, soil or biological matter that has a harmful effect on plants or animals; harmful or hazardous matter introduced into the environment.

    8. A substance that is either present in an environment where it does not belong or is present at levels that might cause harmful (adverse) health effects.

    9. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radioactive substance that can adversely affect air, water or soil.

    10. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect.

    11. As defined by section 104(a)(2) of CERCLA, includes, but is not limited to, any element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring. The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil and any fraction thereof that is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under section 101(14)(A) through (F) of CERCLA, nor does it include natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas of pipeline quality (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas).

    12. As defined by section 101(33) of CERCLA, shall include, but not be limited to, any element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring. The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under section 101(14) (A) through (F) of CERCLA, nor does it include natural gas, liquified natural gas, or synthetic gas of pipeline quality (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). For purposes of the NCP, the term pollutant or contaminant means any pollutant or contaminant that may present an imminent and substantial danger to public health or welfare of the United States.

    13. All pollutants listed in Clean Air Act sections 112(b) or 129(a)(4), with the following three modifications:(1) The definition includes the elements chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are burned as a fuel and combustion will result in the formation of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), or sulfur dioxide (SO2). Chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur are not included in the definition in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are used as an ingredient and not as a fuel.(2) The definition does not include the following pollutants that are either unlikely to be found in non-hazardous secondary materials and products made from such materials or are adequately measured by other parts of this definition: hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine gas (Cl2), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), fine mineral fibers, particulate matter, coke oven emissions, opacity, diazomethane, white phosphorus, and titanium tetrachloride.(3) The definition does not include m-cresol, o-cresol, p-cresol, m-xylene, o-xylene, and p-xylene as individual contaminants distinct from the grouped pollutants total cresols and total xylenes.

    14. An undesirable substance from uranium-ore processing activities that may affect human health and the environment.

    15. All pollutants listed in Clean Air Act sections 112(b) or 129(a)(4), with the following three modifications:(1) The definition includes the elements chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are burned as a fuel and combustion will result in the formation of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), or sulfur dioxide (SO2). Chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur are not included in the definition in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are used as an ingredient and not as a fuel.

    16. Chemical or biological substance in a form that can be incorporated into, onto or be ingested by and that harms aquatic organisms, consumers of aquatic organisms, or users of the aquatic environment, and includes but is not limited to the substances on the 307(a)(1) list of toxic pollutants promulgated on January 31, 1978 (43 FR 4109).

    17. Physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.

    18. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in air, water, or soil that can have adverse health effects.

    19. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance found in air, water, soil, or biological matter that can have a harmful effect on people, animals, or plants.

    20. Anything found in water (including microorganisms, minerals, chemicals, radionuclides, etc.) which may be harmful to human health. DWMAPS includes contaminants for which a public water system may incur a violation of a national primary drinking water regulation.

  2. (regulatory) Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. {OW/TSC}

  3. Any element, substance, compound, or mixture that, after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause illness, death, or deformation in any organism. The definition of pollutant or contaminant specifically excludes petroleum and natural gas.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-ENV-006336
FieldEnvironment
SubjectChemical substances; Policy and guidance; Land, waste and cleanup
ReferencesNational Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation: Definitions; 40 CFR 146.3 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 144.3 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 142.2 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 149.101 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 143.2 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 141.2 (CFR 2018); Safe Drinking Water Act Glossary; Drinking Water Glossary; Private Wells Glossary; Drinking Water Glossary 2009; Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary; RCRA Glossary of Terms; Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms; Terms of Environment; Chesapeake Bay Glossary; Superfund for Students and Teachers Glossary; Ecological Risk Assessment Glossary of Terms; Glossary: Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources; ATSDR 2004; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment; Glossary of Asbestos-related Terms and Acronyms; I-BEAM Glossary of Terms; CRCWQT 2002; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment; 40 CFR 310.3 (CFR 2013); 40 CFR 300.5 (CFR 2013); 40 CFR 307.14 (CFR 2013); 40 CFR 241.2 (CFR 2013); DOE Office of Legacy Management Glossary; Definition truncated. For full definition see, 40 CFR 241.2 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 230.3 (CFR 2013); 40 CFR 2.304 (CFR 2018); ACE Glossary of Terms; America's Children and the Environment Terms; Report on the Environment (ROE) Glossary; DWMAPS Glossary; 40 CFR Parts 141.2, 142.2 and 143.2; RCRA Orientation Manual 2008 Glossary
Record as JSON 
{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-006336",
  "term": "Contaminant",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definitions": [
    "1. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.\n\n2. Anything found in water (including microorganisms, minerals, chemicals, radionuclides, etc.) which may be harmful to human health.\n\n3. A contaminant is any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter present in any media at concentrations that may pose a threat to human health or the environment.\n\n4. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect on air, water, or soil.\n\n5. Anything that makes the water or land impure, unclean or polluted.\n\n6. Harmful or hazardous matter introduced into the environment.\n\n7. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance found in air, water, soil or biological matter that has a harmful effect on plants or animals; harmful or hazardous matter introduced into the environment.\n\n8. A substance that is either present in an environment where it does not belong or is present at levels that might cause harmful (adverse) health effects.\n\n9. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radioactive substance that can adversely affect air, water or soil.\n\n10. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter that has an adverse effect.\n\n11. As defined by section 104(a)(2) of CERCLA, includes, but is not limited to, any element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring. The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil and any fraction thereof that is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under section 101(14)(A) through (F) of CERCLA, nor does it include natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas of pipeline quality (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas).\n\n12. As defined by section 101(33) of CERCLA, shall include, but not be limited to, any element, substance, compound, or mixture, including disease-causing agents, which after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through food chains, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutation, physiological malfunctions (including malfunctions in reproduction) or physical deformations, in such organisms or their offspring. The term does not include petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof which is not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under section 101(14) (A) through (F) of CERCLA, nor does it include natural gas, liquified natural gas, or synthetic gas of pipeline quality (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas). For purposes of the NCP, the term pollutant or contaminant means any pollutant or contaminant that may present an imminent and substantial danger to public health or welfare of the United States.\n\n13. All pollutants listed in Clean Air Act sections 112(b) or 129(a)(4), with the following three modifications:(1) The definition includes the elements chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are burned as a fuel and combustion will result in the formation of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), or sulfur dioxide (SO2). Chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur are not included in the definition in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are used as an ingredient and not as a fuel.(2) The definition does not include the following pollutants that are either unlikely to be found in non-hazardous secondary materials and products made from such materials or are adequately measured by other parts of this definition: hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine gas (Cl2), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), fine mineral fibers, particulate matter, coke oven emissions, opacity, diazomethane, white phosphorus, and titanium tetrachloride.(3) The definition does not include m-cresol, o-cresol, p-cresol, m-xylene, o-xylene, and p-xylene as individual contaminants distinct from the grouped pollutants total cresols and total xylenes.\n\n14. An undesirable substance from uranium-ore processing activities that may affect human health and the environment.\n\n15. All pollutants listed in Clean Air Act sections 112(b) or 129(a)(4), with the following three modifications:(1) The definition includes the elements chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are burned as a fuel and combustion will result in the formation of hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen fluoride (HF), nitrogen oxides (NOX), or sulfur dioxide (SO2). Chlorine, fluorine, nitrogen, and sulfur are not included in the definition in cases where non-hazardous secondary materials are used as an ingredient and not as a fuel.\n\n16. Chemical or biological substance in a form that can be incorporated into, onto or be ingested by and that harms aquatic organisms, consumers of aquatic organisms, or users of the aquatic environment, and includes but is not limited to the substances on the 307(a)(1) list of toxic pollutants promulgated on January 31, 1978 (43 FR 4109).\n\n17. Physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water.\n\n18. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in air, water, or soil that can have adverse health effects.\n\n19. Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance found in air, water, soil, or biological matter that can have a harmful effect on people, animals, or plants.\n\n20. Anything found in water (including microorganisms, minerals, chemicals, radionuclides, etc.) which may be harmful to human health. DWMAPS includes contaminants for which a public water system may incur a violation of a national primary drinking water regulation.",
    "(regulatory) Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. {OW/TSC}",
    "Any element, substance, compound, or mixture that, after release into the environment and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into any organism, will or may reasonably be anticipated to cause illness, death, or deformation in any organism. The definition of pollutant or contaminant specifically excludes petroleum and natural gas."
  ],
  "subject": [
    "Chemical substances",
    "Policy and guidance",
    "Land, waste and cleanup"
  ],
  "references": [
    "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations Implementation: Definitions; 40 CFR 146.3 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 144.3 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 142.2 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 149.101 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 143.2 (CFR 2018); 40 CFR 141.2 (CFR 2018)",
    "Safe Drinking Water Act Glossary; Drinking Water Glossary; Private Wells Glossary; Drinking Water Glossary 2009",
    "Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary",
    "RCRA Glossary of Terms; Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms; Terms of Environment",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "Superfund for Students and Teachers Glossary",
    "Ecological Risk Assessment Glossary of Terms",
    "Glossary: Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources; ATSDR 2004; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment; Glossary of Asbestos-related Terms and Acronyms",
    "I-BEAM Glossary of Terms",
    "CRCWQT 2002; Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "40 CFR 310.3 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 300.5 (CFR 2013); 40 CFR 307.14 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 241.2 (CFR 2013)",
    "DOE Office of Legacy Management Glossary",
    "Definition truncated. For full definition see, 40 CFR 241.2 (CFR 2018)",
    "40 CFR 230.3 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 2.304 (CFR 2018)",
    "ACE Glossary of Terms; America's Children and the Environment Terms",
    "Report on the Environment (ROE) Glossary",
    "DWMAPS Glossary",
    "40 CFR Parts 141.2, 142.2 and 143.2",
    "RCRA Orientation Manual 2008 Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/contaminant/"
}

Record 6,183 of 29,894 in Environment terminology (MLC-0121). Request the full dataset.