Organic Pollutants in the Geosphere

Abstract

A wide range of organic substances of anthropogenic origin have been detected in the environment. Many of them are characterized as pollutants pointing to harmful effects and extended environmental stability. Since many environmentally relevant properties of these contaminants are related to both molecular structures and fields of application, important pollutant classes are discussed in detail classified either by their chemistry (e.g. halogenated compounds, PAHs) or their technical application (e.g. pesticides, explosives) in this chapter.