Which term describes substances that persist in the environment for long durations?

• A. Fracking
• B. Slowly Degradable Pollutants
• C. Aquifers
• D. Decomposing Bacteria

Answer: (B)

Persistence in the environment means a substance remains for long periods because it degrades slowly or is not readily removed. Substances described as slowly degradable pollutants are those that resist breakdown and persist in air, water, or soil, often with long environmental half-lives that allow them to accumulate and travel through ecosystems. That makes this term the best fit for describing pollutants that endure for long durations. Fracking is a drilling method, not a descriptor of persistence. Aquifers are groundwater reservoirs, and decomposing bacteria are organisms that break down materials, reducing persistence rather than describing persistent pollutants.