Title: Principles of pollution management
Course: Hygiene and Environmental Health Part 1 - Ethiopia (Full)

Principles of pollution management

Explain the differences between a hazard, a contaminant and a pollutant.

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A hazard is anything that harms our health. A contaminant is something introduced to the environment (air and water) that may or may not pose a significant health risk. A pollutant is a contaminant introduced into the environment that adversely affects animal and human life.

There are two main approaches to pollution management:

- Pollution prevention: focuses on stopping pollution being produced in the first place, or reducing any waste generation at the source.
- Pollution control: those measures taken to control pollution and wastes after they have been generated or produced.