ABSTRACT
Pollutants are substances that, when released into the environment, will degrade air, water, or soil and harm or kill plants and animals. This degradation may happen quickly or over time. Some pollutants, such as arsenic, lead, and cyanide, are outright poisons. The six most important atoms for life are carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Proteins are constructed from amino acids and contain C, H, O, and N in the form of amine. The aggregate, or lumped, measurements characterize groups of substances without distinguishing individual species. Turbidity and color are unusual because they are measured in calibrated arbitrary units and not as mass concentrations. Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. Color is another parameter that cannot be measured in mass units. Color can be caused by dissolved substances or by suspended matter.
