Are all pollutants harmful to living organisms?

Answer 1

Yes. All pollutants are harmful to living organisms and make it harder for them to thrive.

Answer:

This isn't a question where a yes or no answer id possible. It depends on the pollutant and its concentration and the organism in question. As Paracelsus noted "The dose makes the poison". As examples:

• Salt is needed for human health and we put it in our food. It is however toxic in high levels for us and at much lower levels for otherorganizms.
• Many toxic heavy metals are needed as trace elements in our diets. Oxygen was a pollutant in the early Earth's atmosphere and caused massive destruction of existing organism which were anaerobic. Now it is required for most plant and animal respiration. However at too high levels it exhibits toxic properties.
• Acids and alkalies seem to be a good candidate for always toxic designation but we use them in our digestive systems and they are present in many foods we eat.
• Toxicologists have been aware of this for years and designate the species, even the sex, of animals used to establish toxoc levels
• Ethylene is a plant pollutant which is harmless to humans and animals.
• Some animals and plants live in sulfur springs with concentrations of sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide which most animals, including humans, could not abide.

Answer 2

Yes, most pollutants are harmful to living organisms as they can disrupt normal biological processes, leading to adverse health effects or ecological damage. However, some pollutants are not harmful at low concentrations or are naturally occurring and may not have significant negative impacts.