What Are the Effects of Environmental Contaminants?
The effects of environmental contaminants can be wide-ranging and severe. They can cause acute toxicity in organisms, leading to immediate death or sub-lethal effects such as reproductive failure, developmental abnormalities, and immune system suppression. Chronic exposure to lower levels of contaminants can lead to long-term health issues such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and neurological disorders. Ecosystems can also be affected, experiencing loss of biodiversity, changes in species composition, and degradation of habitat quality.