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HomeHealth and Safety CodeDiv. 27Ch. 1Art. 1§ 44507 Pollution Definition Standards

§ 44507 Pollution Definition Standards

Health and Safety Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 44507 Pollution Definition Standards

Key Takeaways

  • •Pollution means making the environment dirty or unsafe in many ways, like dirty air, dirty water, or dirty land.
  • •It includes things like trash, dangerous waste, loud noises, and even things that make water too hot or cold for animals.
  • •If something makes drinking water unsafe, that’s also pollution.
  • •The government decides what counts as pollution using rules from the state or federal level.

Example

A factory dumps dirty chemicals into a river.

This is pollution because it makes the water unsafe and dirty, which hurts animals and people who need clean water.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 44507 Pollution Definition Standards

“Pollution” means an alteration of the quality of the environment of the state and shall be determined by the various standards prescribed from time to time by this state, the federal government, or any agency, department, or political subdivision of this state or the federal government, and may include, but is not limited to, all of the following: (a) Earth, air, or water pollution. (b) Pollution caused by solid or hazardous waste materials including the disposal or processing of these materials. (c) Thermal pollution. (d) Radiation contamination. (e) The release of hazardous materials. (f) Noise pollution. (g) Contamination of soil or groundwater resulting from the release of hazardous materials, as defined in Section 25260. (h) The presence of asbestos or lead paint, at sites with a reasonable potential for economically beneficial reuse. (i) Any natural or manmade substance that must be removed to provide safe drinking water. (Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 643, Sec. 4. (SB 832) Effective November 2, 2009.)

Last verified: January 24, 2026

Key Terms

pollutioncontaminationhazardousdisposalwastefinereleaseenvironment

Related Statutes

  • § 25209 Land Treatment Unit Safeguards
  • § 25230.11 Treated Wood Waste Disposal
  • § 25280 Hazardous Underground Storage Tanks
  • § 80720 Hazardous Material Release Definition
  • § 104495 Playground Safety Definitions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Health and Safety Code. Section 44507.
View Official Source