persistent inorganic pollutant (PIP)

Inorganic  substance  that  is  stable  in  the  environment,  is  liable  to  long-range  transport,  may  bio-
accumulate in human and animal tissue, and may have significant impacts on human health and the
environment.

Note 1:    Examples are arsenides, fluorides, cadmium salts, and lead salts.
Note 2:    Some  inorganic  chemicals,  like  crocidolite  asbestos,  are  persistent  in  almost  all  circumstances, but others, like metal sulfides, are persistent only in unreactive environments; sulfides can generate hydrogen sulfide in a reducing environment or sulfates and sulfuric acid in oxidizing environments. As with organic substances, persistence is often a function of environmental properties.