Question

Choose the correct words to fill in the blanks. Pollutant is defined as a substance or an agent which causes pollution (1)_____ and (2)______are chemical pollutants. Pollutants can be (3)_____which rapidly break down by (4)_______processes.
A. (1) Heavy metals (2) DDT (3) degradable (4) natural
B.(1) Particulates (2) heavy metals (3) non-degradable (4) artificial
C. (1) Non- degradable (2) petroleum (3) degradable (4) artificial
D. (1) Microorganism (2) natural gas (3) non degradable (4) natural

Answer 1

Hint: Pollutants are the molecules which cause harmful effects on the environment. Some pollutants remain in the environment for a very long time as they cannot be decomposed easily and some can be decomposed by natural processes.

Complete step by step answer:
Pollutants are the elements or molecules that cause pollution and have harmful effects on the environment. The pollutants can be introduced to the environment both naturally or by humans. Heavy metals are the environment pollutant as they are toxic in nature, bioaccumulative in nature and persistent in the environment. The aquatic bodies are contaminated with toxic heavy metals causing water pollution. As the heavy metals are persistent to the environment they contaminate the food chain of the system. DDT is another persistent pollutant which harms the environment as they are absorbed by the soils causing soil pollution and affecting the organism. Pollutants can be degradable which means that they can be broken down easily by the microorganisms through natural processes.
Thus,
Pollutant is defined as a substance or an agent which causes pollution (1)__Heavy metal___ and (2)__DDT____are chemical pollutants. Pollutants can be (3)_degradable__which rapidly break down by (4)__natural_____processes.

So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Heavy metals and DDT are the example of non-degradable pollutants which means they cannot degrade by natural processes. Other examples of non-degradable pollutants are polythene, pesticides, and insecticides. The non-biodegradable waste can be separated and recycled but the process is quite expensive.