Pollution is described as a general deterioration of environmental quality due to contaminants. Which term fits?

• A. Contamination
• B. Degradation
• C. Emission
• D. Pollution

Answer: (D)

The concept here is distinguishing environmental terms by what they describe. Pollution refers to the adverse change in environmental quality that results from contaminants. It captures the overall deterioration of air, water, or soil caused by those contaminants, which matches the description given. Contamination is about the mere presence of contaminants in a medium, not necessarily the resulting harm. Emission is the release or discharge of pollutants from a source. Degradation describes a decline in quality but is a broader term that isn’t specifically tied to contaminants causing harm. So the term that best fits “general deterioration of environmental quality due to contaminants” is pollution.