Final answer:
Persistent organic pollutants are substances that break down or degrade very slowly in the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question that best fits the answer 'a term that describes substances that break down or degrade very slowly' is b) What is persistent organic pollution? Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. These substances can last for years or even decades before they degrade and are known for their long-lasting effects on ecological systems.
Related Terms and Concepts
Eutrophication - This is the process through which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants. Human activity can lead to eutrophication, causing serious disturbances to aquatic ecosystems.
Biodegradable - This term describes substances that can be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, typically breaking down more quickly than persistent organic pollutants.
Biomagnification - This is the process whereby toxic substances increase in concentration as they move up through trophic levels in an ecosystem's food web.
Bioremediation - The use of living organisms, such as microbes or plants, to remove pollutants from the environment, such as using plants to remove toxic metals from soils.