Priority pollutants are characterized by their:

Priority pollutants are substances that have been identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as posing significant risk to human health and the environment. These pollutants are often characterized by their known or suspected carcinogenicity, which means they can lead to cancer in humans or other living organisms. This classification is crucial because it directs regulatory efforts and remediation strategies toward the most hazardous compounds, ensuring that environmental and public health is prioritized in policy and management decisions.

The significance of prioritizing these pollutants lies in their potential effects on both ecosystems and human populations. The identification of carcinogenic substances is vital for risk assessment and the establishment of safety regulations aimed at minimizing exposure and protecting public health. In this context, understanding the nature of these pollutants and their impacts helps engineers and environmental scientists design effective interventions to mitigate their risks.

The other options refer to different characteristics that may be associated with pollutants but are not the primary defining factor for priority pollutants. High-volume waste production and resilience to treatment may impact how pollutants are managed, while low biodegradability speaks to the persistence of a pollutant in the environment, but it is the potential for carcinogenicity that primarily determines the priority designation.