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"Nociva" is a form of "nocivo", an adjective which is often translated as "harmful". "Contaminada" is a form of "contaminar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pollute". Learn more about the difference between "nociva" and "contaminada" below.
nocivo(
noh
-
see
-
boh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (hurtful)
a. harmful
Tengan cuidado. Estos productos químicos son nocivos para los seres humanos.Be careful. These chemicals are harmful to humans.
b. injurious
Mi doctor sigue recordándome que el tabaco es nocivo para la salud.My doctor keeps reminding me that tobacco is injurious to health.
c. damaging
Estar bajo el sol por un tiempo prolongado es nocivo para la piel.Prolonged exposure to sunlight can be damaging for the skin.
contaminar(
kohn
-
tah
-
mee
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to pollute (the sea or the atmosphere)
Muchas de esas fábricas han emitido gases que contaminaban la atmósfera.Many of those factories have emitted gases that polluted the atmosphere.
b. to contaminate (food or a sample)
Las aguas residuales habían contaminado los cultivos.The sewage had contaminated the crops.
2. (to pervert)
a. to corrupt
Muchos han acusado a la televisión de contaminar la mente de los jóvenes.Many have accused television of corrupting the minds of the youth.
a. to corrupt (a language or a culture)
Tras siglos de convivencia, el castellano está contaminado por el catalán y viceversa.After centuries of coexistence, Spanish is corrupted by Catalan and vice versa.
contaminarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to become polluted (sea or atmosphere)
Tras el atentado contra el oleoducto, el río se contaminó con petróleo crudo.After the attack on the pipeline, the river became polluted with crude oil.
b. to become contaminated (food or sample)
La muestra se contaminó con ADN exógeno.The sample became contaminated by exogenous DNA.
