contaminant=pollutant?

100% correct.

But for a more precise explanation:

Contaminant/Contamination has to be harmful or toxic or damaging to the normal function of the entity (which can be human, plants, animals, the Earth's water, soil, or even intangible objects such as culture, etc.)

Pollutant/Pollution only means something that make the entity dirty or less than perfect or ideal. It may not necessarily has the comtamination effect if it is not in massive concentration.

其實這兩個字的意思很接近, 都是解污染。上面回答的或許不錯, 但我想這裡也涉及使用習慣(usage)的問題。

例如我們說空氣污染, 那必定是用 air pollution, 但空氣中的污染物很多都是有毒害的. 又例如 water pollution 是泛指水質受到污染, 但要指明某處地方的水, 如大廈的水缸則可用 water contamination, 但這不牽涉到污染物是否有毒害或者程度是否嚴重的問題.

我想還是要靠平時多留意及字典提供的例子輔助。

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