Which of the following is NOT considered a conventional pollutant?

Heavy metals are classified as priority pollutants rather than conventional pollutants. Conventional pollutants typically include those that are commonly found in wastewater, and they primarily encompass pollutants that originate from municipal sources and have well-defined treatment methods. BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), oil and grease, and fecal coliform are all indicative of the organic and microbial synthetics widely found in municipal wastewater. They are regarded as conventional because they can be treated effectively with standard wastewater treatment processes.

On the other hand, heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, are not categorized as conventional pollutants. This is due to their toxic nature, persistence in the environment, and the complex challenges they present in management and treatment. Heavy metals can accumulate in living organisms and have detrimental effects on both ecological and human health, requiring more specialized approaches for monitoring and remediation. Thus, identifying heavy metals as not fitting the conventional pollutant category is crucial for effective regulatory compliance and environmental management.