contaminants
n. plural-onlyn. harmful or dirty substances that get into something else, like water, food, or air. They make the original thing impure or unsafe to use.
n. substances that make something impure, unclean, or unfit for use through contact or mixture. Often used in environmental, industrial, or scientific contexts to describe pollutants.
The filter removes harmful contaminants from the tap water.
Laboratory technicians wear protective suits to prevent skin cells or hair from becoming contaminants in the sterile samples.
Environmental scientists are monitoring the river for chemical contaminants that may have leaked from the nearby industrial site during the recent floods.
Typically used in the plural form when referring to various types of polluting substances.