Diverse human-produced organic chemicals can enter surface and groundwater through human activities, including pesticide use and industrial processes, and as breakdown products of other chemicals (Carr and Neary 2008). Many of these pollutants, including pesticides and other non-metallic toxins, are used globally, persist in the environment, and can be transported long ranges to regions where they have never been produced (UNEP 2009). Organic contaminants (sometimes called “persistent organic pollutants”, or POPS), such as certain pesticides, are commonly found to be contaminating groundwater by leaching through the soil and surface waters through runoff from agricultural and urban landscapes. DDT, a pesticide.
