Saastunut

Saastunut is a Finnish adjective meaning contaminated, polluted, or infected. It is used to describe substances, environments, or objects that have acquired hazardous substances or pathogens. Common phrases include saastunut vesi (contaminated water), saastunut ilma (polluted air), and saastuneet elintarvikkeet (contaminated foods). In medical and environmental contexts, saastunut describes material that is unsafe for use or consumption.

Etymology and grammar: Saastunut is formed from the noun saaste ('pollutant, contaminant') with the adjectival participial suffix -nut. It can function predicatively (Vesi on saastunut) or attributively (saastunut vesi, saastuneet elintarvikkeet). Related terms include saaste and saastepitoisuus.

Contexts and nuances: In public health and regulation, a source may be described as saastunut after contamination by bacteria, chemicals, or other hazards. The word is common in formal or technical language and often appears in reports, safety notices, and environmental studies.

See also: saaste, saastepitoisuus, saastuneisuus.