ABSTRACT
The soil materials of interest (and concern) in the study of the pollutant fate in contamination of the land environment are the soil substrate and the sediments formed at the bottom of receiving waters (lakes, rivers, etc.). We have defined
pollutants
(Section 1.5) as those contaminants judged to be threats to the environment and public health, and will continue to use the term in this sense. Pollutants are toxicants. We will continue to use the term
contaminants
in much of the material contained in this chapter since this is a general term which includes pollutants in the general grouping of contaminants. The term pollutant will be used to highlight the specific concern under discussion.
