Laboratory research of physical characteristics of soils

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly toxic persistent organic environmental pollutants.
The use of these compounds as dielectrics in condensers and coolers in heat exchange systems is a notable technological achievement of industrial chemistry in the mid-twentieth century.

Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are recognized "leaders" in toxicity even among the chemical pollutants of the "dirty dozen"("грязная дюжина").
The most famous representative of this group of compounds is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, which has the maximum toxicity and is often referred to as dioxin proper.

Any particles of a polymeric material (plastic) having a diameter of less than 5 cm, regardless of their composition and origin, are classified as microplastics. Microplastic can be a direct product of industrial production: plastic powders and granules are often included in household chemicals and other chemical products. In other cases microplastic appears in the environment during the destruction of larger "macroscopic" objects.