Final answer:
Chemical pollutants are carried far from their sources mainly through atmospheric transport, such as wind carrying airborne chemicals, and through waterways, where they can be transported by water currents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical pollutants can be transported far from their sources through various mechanisms. One way is through the atmosphere, where pollutants like pesticides or industrial chemicals can become airborne and are carried by wind patterns to distant locations. This can place pollutants into areas that are quite far from their original emission points, such as in the case of pesticides used in lowland areas being detected in high-altitude cloud forests.
Another mechanism for transport is through waterways. Pollutants can enter rivers, streams, and oceans through runoff or discharge from point sources. These chemicals can then travel vast distances in water, being carried by currents. This includes nutrients from agricultural runoff leading to algal blooms, as well as pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals escaping sewage treatment and contaminating the aquatic environment.