Pollution with Hazardous Substances

This chapter provides a short overview on the historical background of marine environmental pollution by hazardous substances and the measures implemented to minimize its amount and impact. In order to better understand the problems involved with contaminants in the marine environment, the basic common principles, e.g. their physico-chemical properties, persistency, behavior, and environmental impacts are described. Sources and fate of chemicals as well as their way into the environment also belong to the factors which are needed to know in order to assess the environmental risks of contaminants and protect the environment from its exposure and effects.