Which contaminants are specifically mentioned as not degrading chemically and remaining present potentially for centuries?
Answer
Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium
Heavy metals are elemental and do not degrade chemically into harmless substances; they persist and can only be mobilized later by environmental changes.
Related Questions
What is generally the most significant source of modern soil contamination problems?Which characteristic causes chemicals to remain relatively localized near the contamination source?What is the primary risk associated with highly mobile contaminants moving downward through the soil profile?Under what conditions is inhalation exposure from soil contaminants most significant?What term describes the process where pollutant concentrations increase as they move up the food chain through consumption of contaminated organisms?Which contaminants are specifically mentioned as not degrading chemically and remaining present potentially for centuries?How do agricultural practices contribute to soil contamination according to the text?What kind of hazard is characterized by the low-level, steady buildup of non-degrading substances like lead over decades?Which remediation technique is generally employed for strongly bound contaminants like some heavy metals?What is a common, visible indicator that soil chemistry is severely impaired and affecting plant health?