Abatement
Reducing the degree or intensity of, or eliminating, pollution.(1)
Absorption
The process of taking in, as when a sponge takes up water. Chemicals can
be
absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and then transported to
other
organs. Chemicals can also be absorbed into the bloodstream after
breathing or
swallowing.(2)
Active ingredient
In any pesticide product, the component that kills, or otherwise
controls,
target pests. Pesticides are regulated primarily on the basis of active
ingredients.(1)
Acute exposure
A single exposure to a toxic substance which results in severe biological
harm
or death. Acute exposures are usually characterized as lasting no longer
than a
day, as compared to longer, continuing chronic exposure over a period of
time.(1)
Agricultural pollution
Farming wastes, including runoff and leaching of pesticides and
fertilizers;
erosion and dust from plowing; improper disposal of animal manure and
carcasses;
crop residues, and debris.(1)
Air particulates
Total suspended particulate matter found in the atmosphere as solid
particles or
liquid droplets. Chemical composition of particulates varies widely,
depending
on location and time of year. Airborne particulates include windblown
dust,
emissions from industrial processes, smoke from the burning of wood and
coal,
and motor vehicle or non-road engine exhausts.(1)
Air pollutant
Any substance in air that could, in high enough concentration, harm man,
other
animals, vegetation, or material. Pollutants may include almost any
natural or
artificial composition of matter capable of being airborne. They may be
in the
form of solid particles, liquid droplets, gases, or in combination
thereof.
Generally, they fall into two main groups: (1) those emitted directly
from
identifiable sources and (2) those produced in the air by interaction
between
two or more primary pollutants, or by reaction with normal atmospheric
constituents, with or without photoactivation.(1)
Air pollutants,
hazardous
Air pollutants which are not covered by ambient air quality standards but
which,
as defined in the Clean Air Act, may reasonably be expected to cause or
contribute to irreversible illness or death. Such pollutants include
asbestos,
beryllium, mercury, benzene, coke-oven emissions, radionuclides, and
vinyl
chloride.(1)
Air quality standards
The level of pollutants prescribed by regulations that may not be
exceeded
during a given time in a defined area.(1)
Air toxics
Any air pollutant for which a national ambient air quality standard
(NAAQS) does
not exist (i.e., excluding ozone, carbon monoxide, PM-10, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxide) that may reasonably be anticipated to cause cancer,
developmental effects, reproductive dysfunctions, neurological disorders,
heritable gene mutations, or other serious or irreversible chronic or
acute
health effects in humans.(1)
Alternative Fuels
Substitutes for traditional liquid, oil-derived motor vehicle fuels like
gasoline and diesel. Includes methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas,
and
others.(1)
Alternative technology
Approach that aims to use resources efficiently or to substitute
resources in
order to do minimum damage to the environment. This approach permits a
large
degree of personal control over the technology.(1)
Ambient air
Any unconfined portion of the atmosphere: open air, surrounding air.
Ambient air
is usually outdoor air (as opposed to indoor air).(1)
Animal studies
Investigations using animals as surrogates for humans with the
expectation that
the results are pertinent to humans.(1)
Applied research
An investigative study in which the results are used in actual
practice.(2)
Arsenic
A metal widely distributed in nature and found mostly in water.
Industrial
contamination is the primary source of airborne arsenic. Active smelters
may be
a source of high exposure to arsenic fumes and dust. The manufacture of
pesticides and other agricultural products is the major source of
occupational
exposure. Arsenic has been associated with skin cancer, lung cancer,
peripheral
vascular disease and liver injury. Reproductive effects have been noted
in
animals.(3)
Asbestos
A mineral fiber that can pollute air or water and cause cancer or
asbestosis
when inhaled. EPA has banned or severely restricted its use in
manufacturing and
construction.(1)
Asbestos abatement
Procedures to control fiber release from asbestos-containing materials in
a
building or to remove them entirely, including removal, encapsulation,
repair,
enclosure, encasement, and operations and maintenance programs.(1)
Asbestosis
A disease associated with inhalation of asbestos fibers. The disease
makes
breathing progressively more difficult and can be fatal.(1)
Attainment area
An area considered to have air quality as good as or better than the
national
ambient air quality standards as defined in the Clean Air Act. An area
may be an
attainment area for one pollutant and a non-attainment area for
others.(1)
Background level
In air pollution control, the concentration of air pollutants in a
definite area
during a fixed period of time prior to the starting up or on the stoppage
of a
source of emission under control. In toxic substances monitoring, the
average
presence in the environment, originally referring to naturally occurring
phenomena.(1)
Bacteria
(Singular: bacterium) Microscopic living organisms that can aid in
pollution
control by metabolizing organic matter in sewage, oil spills or other
pollutants. However, bacteria in soil, water or air can also cause human,
animal
and plant health problems.(1)
Bioaccumulants
Substances that increase in concentration in living organisms as they
take in
contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are very slowly
metabolized or excreted. (See: biological magnification.)(1)
Bioconcentration
The accumulation of a chemical in tissues of an organism (such as a fish)
to
levels greater than in the surrounding medium in which the organism
lives.(1)
Biological
magnification
The process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals
move
up the food chain by working their way into rivers or lakes and being
eaten by
aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds,
animals
or humans. The substances become concentrated in tissues or internal
organs as
they move up the chain. (See: bioaccumulative.)(1)
Biological uptake
The transfer of hazardous substances from the environment to plants,
animals,
and humans. This may be evaluated through environmental measurements,
such as
measurement of the amount of the substance in an organ known to be
susceptible
to that substance. More commonly, biological dose measurements are used
to
determine whether exposure has occurred. The presence of a contaminant,
or its
metabolite, in human biologic specimens, such as blood, hair, or urine,
is used
to confirm exposure and can be an independent variable in evaluating the
relationship between the exposure and any observed adverse health
effects.(2)
Biomarkers (biological
markers/monitoring)
Measuring chemicals or their metabolites in biological materials (e.g.,
blood,
urine, breath) to estimate exposure, or to detect biochemical changes in
the
exposed subject before or during the onset of adverse health effects.
Sometimes
refers to a specific indicator for a particular disease/functional
disturbance.(4)
Body burden
The total amount of a chemical in the body. Some chemicals build up in
the body
because they are stored in fat or bone or because they are eliminated
very
slowly.(2)
Brownfields
Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities
where
expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental
contamination.(1)
Cadmium (Cd)
A heavy metal element that accumulates in the environment.(1)
Carbon monoxide (CO)
A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete fossil fuel
combustion.(1)
Carboxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin in which the iron is bound to carbon monoxide (CO) instead of
oxygen.(1)
Carcinogen
Any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.(1)
Carry home exposures
Occupational exposures that are transported into the home environment via
the
clothes, shoes, skin, hair and cars of working parents and consequently
become a
source of exposure for children.(5)
Case study
The medical or epidemiologic evaluation of a single person or a small
number of
individuals to determine descriptive information about their health
status or
potential for exposure through interview or biomedical testing.(2)
Chlorinated
hydrocarbons
These include a class of persistent, broad-spectrum insecticides that
linger in
the environment and accumulate in the food chain. Among them are DDT,
aldrin,
dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane, lindane, endrin, mirex, hexachloride,
and
toxaphene. Other examples include trichlorethylene (TCE), used as an
industrial
solvent.(1)
Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)
A family of inert, nontoxic, and easily liquified chemicals used in
refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, or as solvents
and
aerosol propellants. Because CFCs are not destroyed in the lower
atmosphere,
they drift into the upper atmosphere where their chlorine components
destroy
ozone.(1)
Chronic effect
An adverse effect on a human or animal in which symptoms recur frequently
or
develop slowly over a long period of time.(1)
Chronic toxicity
The capacity of a substance to cause long-term poisonous human health
effects.(1)
Cluster investigation
A review of an unusual number, real or perceived, of health events (for
example,
reports of cancer) grouped together in time and location. Cluster
investigations
are designed to confirm case reports, determine whether they represent an
unusual disease occurrence and, if possible, explore possible causes and
environmental factors.(2)
Community health
investigation
Medical or epidemiologic evaluation of descriptive health information
about
individual persons or a population of persons to evaluate and determine
health
concerns and to assess the likelihood that they may be linked to exposure
to
hazardous substances.(2)
Community Right-to-Know reporting
requirements
Part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986
(EPCRA),
the Community Right-to-Know Reporting Requirements (Sections 311-312)
establish
reporting requirements which provide the public with important
information on
the hazardous chemicals in their communities. The purpose is to increase
community awareness of chemical hazards and to facilitate emergency
planning.
()
Contaminant
Any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter
that has
an adverse effect on air, water, or soil.(1)
Cumulative exposure
The summation of exposures of an organism to a chemical over a period of
time.(1)
DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-
Trichloroethane)
The first chlorinated hydrocarboninsecticide. DDT has a half-life of 15
years
and can collect in fatty tissues of certain animals. EPA banned
registration and
interstate sale of DDT for virtually all but emergency uses in the United
States
in 1972 because of its persistence in the environment and accumulation in
the
food chain.(1)
Developmental
disorders/effects
Adverse effects such as altered growth, structural abnormality,
functional
deficiency, or death observed in a developing organism.(1)
Dioxin
Any of a family of compounds known chemically as dibenzo-p-dioxins.
Concern
about them arises from their potential toxicity and their contamination
of
commercial products. Tests on laboratory animals indicate that it is one
of the
more toxic man-made compounds.(1)
Disease registry
A system for collecting and maintaining in a structured record,
information on
persons having a common illness or adverse health condition.(2)
Dose
The amount of substance to which a person is exposed. Dose often takes
body
weight into account.(2)
Dose response
How a biological organism's response to a toxic substance quantitatively
shifts
as its overall exposure to the substance changes (e.g., a small dose of
carbon
monoxide may cause drowsiness; a large dose can be fatal.)(1)
Electric and Magnetic Fields
(EMFs)
EMFs consist of low-frequency radiation that is generated when electric
current
flows through a high-tension wire. EMFs have been associated with an
increased
incidence of leukemia in children and brain cancer in adults.(6)
Emission
Pollution discharged into the atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents,
and
surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities; from residential
chimneys;
and from motor vehicle, locomotive, or aircraft exhausts.(1)
Emission standard
The maximum amount of air polluting discharge legally allowed from a
single
source, mobile or stationary.(1)
Endocrine disruptors
Synthetic chemicals and natural plant compounds that may affect the
endocrine
system (the communication system of glands, hormones and cellular
receptors that
control the body's internal functions). Many of these substances have
been
associated with developmental, reproductive and other health problems in
wildlife and laboratory animals. Some experts suggest these compounds may
affect
humans in similar ways.(9)
Environmental fate
The destiny of a chemical or biological pollutant after release into the
environment. Environmental fate involves temporal and spatial
considerations of
transport, transfer, storage and transformation.(4)
Environmental justice
The fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and
educational
levels with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement
of
environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment implies
that no
population should be forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of the
negative
environmental impacts of pollution or environmental hazards due to a lack
of
political or economic strength.(5)
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
(ETS)
Second hand smoke; tobacco smoke inhaled by someone in proximity to a
smoker.(5)
Epidemiology
Study of the distribution of disease, or other health-related states and
events
in human populations, as related to such factors as age, sex, occupation,
ethnic, and economic status in order to identify and alleviate health
problems
and promote better health.(1)
Exposure
Contact with a chemical by swallowing, by breathing, or by direct contact
(such
as through the skin or eyes). Exposure may be short term (acute) or long
term
(chronic).(2)
Exposure assessment
Identifying the pathways by which toxicants may reach individuals,
estimating
how much of a chemical an individual is likely to be exposed to, and
estimating
the number of individuals likely to be exposed.(1)
Exposure registry
A system for collecting and maintaining in a structured record
information on
persons with documented environmental exposure(s). The exposure registry
evolved
from the need for fundamental information concerning the potential impact
on
human health of long-term exposure to low and moderate levels of
hazardous
substances.(2)
Fluorocarbons (FCs)
Any of a number of organic compounds analogous to hydrocarbons in which
one or
more hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine. Once used in the United
States as
a propellant for domestic aerosols, they are now found mainly in coolants
and
some industrial processes. FCs containing chlorine are called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). They are believed to be modifying the ozone
layer in
the stratosphere, thereby allowing more harmful solar radiation to reach
the
Earth's surface.(1)
Fumigant
A pesticide vaporized to kill pests. Used in buildings and
greenhouses.(1)
Fungi
(Singular: Fungus) Molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs. A
group of
organisms lacking in chlorophyll (i.e., are not photosynthetic) and which
are
usually non-mobile, filamentous, and multicellular. Some grow in soil,
others
attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants which they obtain
nutrients. Some are pathogens, others stabilize sewage and digest
composted
waste.(1)
Fungicide
Pesticides which are used to control, deter, or destroy fungi.(1)
Geographic information system
(GIS)
A computer hardware and software system designed to collect, manipulate,
analyze, and display spatially referenced data for solving complex
resource,
environmental, and social problems.(2)
Greenhouse effect
The warming of the Earth's atmosphere attributed to a build-up of carbon
dioxide
or other gases; some scientists think that this build-up allows the sun's
rays
to heat the Earth, while infrared radiation makes the atmosphere opaque
to a
counterbalancing loss of heat.(1)
Half-life
1. The time required for a pollutant to lose half its effect on the
environment.
For example, the biochemical half-life of DDT in the environment is 15
years; of
Radium, 1,580 years. 2. The time required for half of the atoms of a
radioactive
element to undergo self-transmutation or decay. 3. The time required for
the
elimination of one-half a total dose from the body.(1)
Hazard
A source of risk that does not necessarily imply potential for
occurrence. A
hazard produces risk only if an exposure pathway exists, and if exposures
create
the possibility of adverse consequences.(2)
Hazard identification
Determining if a chemical can cause adverse health effects in humans and
what
those affects might be.(1)
Hazardous substance
1. Any material that poses a threat to human health and/or the
environment.
Typical hazardous substances are toxic, corrosive, ignitable, explosive,
or
chemically reactive. 2. Any substance designated by EPA to be reported if
a
designated quantity of the substance is spilled in the waters of the
United
States or if otherwise released into the environment.(1)
Hazardous waste
By-products of society that can pose a substantial or potential hazard to
human
health or the environment when improperly managed. Possesses at least one
of
four characteristics (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or
toxicity), or
appears on special EPA lists.(1)
Hazardous waste
landfill
An excavated or engineered site where hazardous waste is deposited and
covered.(1)
Health investigation
Any investigation of a defined population, using epidemiologic methods,
which
would assist in determining exposures or possible public health impact by
defining health problems requiring further investigation through
epidemiologic
studies, environmental monitoring or sampling, and surveillance.(2)
Health surveillance
The periodic medical screening of a defined population for a specific
disease or
for biological markers of disease for which the population is, or is
thought to
be, at significantly increased risk. The program should include a
mechanism to
refer for treatment those persons who test positive for disease (also
called
medical monitoring).(2)
Heavy metals
Metallic elements with high atomic weights, e.g., mercury, chromium,
cadmium,
arsenic, and lead; can damage living things at low concentrations and
tend to
accumulate in the food chain.(1)
High risk community
A community located within the vicinity of numerous sites or facilities
or other
potential sources of environmental exposure/health hazards that may
provide high
levels of exposure to contaminants or pollutants. In determining risk or
potential risk, factors such as total weight of toxic contaminants,
toxicity,
routes of exposure, and other factors may be used.(1)
Incinerator
A furnace for burning waste under controlled conditions.(1)
Indicator
1. In biology, an organism, species, or community whose characteristics
show the
presence of specific environmental conditions. 2. In chemistry, a
substance that
shows a visible change, usually of color, at a desired point in a
chemical
reaction. 3. A device that indicates the result of a measurement, e.g., a
pressure gauge or a moveable scale.(1)
Indoor air
The breathing air inside a habitable structure or conveyance.(1)
Indoor air pollution
Chemical, physical, or biological contaminants in indoor air.(1)
Industrial waste
Unwanted materials from an industrial operation; may be liquid, sludge,
solid,
or hazardous waste.(1)
Inert ingredient
Pesticide components such as solvents, carriers, dispersants, and
surfactants
that are not active against target pests. Not all inert ingredients are
innocuous.(1)
Ingestion
Swallowing (such as eating or drinking). Chemicals can get in or on food,
drink,
utensils, cigarettes, or hands where they can be ingested. After
ingestion,
chemicals can be absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the
body.(2)
Inhalation
Breathing. Exposure may occur from inhaling contaminants because they can
be
deposited in the lungs, taken into the blood, or both.(2)
Insecticide
A pesticide compound specifically used to kill or prevent the growth of
insects.(1)
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM)
A mixture of chemical and other, non-pesticide, methods used to control
pests.(1)
Irreversible effect
Effect characterized by the inability of the body to partially or fully
repair
injury caused by a toxic agent.(1)
Irritant
A substance that can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, or respiratory
system.
Effects may be acute from a single high-level exposure, or chronic from
repeated
low-level exposures to such compounds as chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, and
nitric
acid.(1)
Latency
Time from the first exposure to a chemical until the appearance of a
toxic
effect.(1)
Lead (Pb)
A heavy metal that is hazardous to health if breathed or swallowed. Its
use in
gasoline, paints, and plumbing compounds has been sharply restricted or
eliminated by federal laws and regulations. (See: heavy metals.)(1)
Lifetime exposure
Total amount of exposure to a substance that a human would receive in a
lifetime
(usually assumed to be 70 years).(1)
Mercury
A heavy metal that can accumulate in the environment and is highly toxic
if
breathed or swallowed. (See: heavy metals.)(1)
Methyl bromide
Methyl bromide is a broad spectrum pesticide used in the control of pest
insects, nematodes, weeds, pathogens, and rodents. Methyl bromide is
toxic not
only to the target pests it is used against, but to non-target organisms
as
well. Human exposure to high concentrations of methyl bromide can result
in
central nervous system and respiratory system failure, as well as
specific and
severe deleterious actions on the lungs, eyes, and skin. Exposure of
pregnant
women may result in fetal defects. Exposed persons have developed
respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and neurological problems, including inflammation of
nerves
and organs, and degeneration of eyes.(1)
Methylmercury
A man-made molecule, synthesized for commercial purposes and a naturally
occuring compound made by certain bacteria. Methylmercury, which has
found wide
use as a mold killer, penetrates the brain and is a potent neurotoxin.
Methylmercury also crosses the placenta and as a result, large numbers of
pregnant women who were exposed in past methylmercury epidemics bore
severely
brain-damaged children.(5)
Monitoring
Periodic or continuous surveillance or testing to determine the level of
compliance with statutory requirements and/or pollutant levels in various
media
or in humans, plants, and animals.(1)
Morbidity
Illness or disease. Morbidity rate is the number of illnesses or cases of
disease in a population.(2)
Mutagen/mutagenicity
An agent that causes a permanent genetic change in a cell other than that
which
occurs during normal genetic recombination. Mutagenicity is the capacity
of a
chemical or physical agent to cause such permanent alteration.(1)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS)
Standards established by the US Environmental Protection Agency that
apply for
outside air throughout the country.(1)
National Exposure
Registry
A listing of persons exposed to hazardous substances. This listing is
composed
of chemical-specific subregistries. The primary purpose of the registry
program
is to create a large database of similarly exposed persons. This database
is to
be used to facilitate epidemiology research in ascertaining adverse
health
effects of persons exposed to low levels of chemicals over a long
period.(2)
National Priorities List
(NPL)
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) listing of sites contaminated
by
toxic materials that have undergone preliminary assessment and site
inspection
to determine which locations pose immediate threat to persons living or
working
near the release. These sites are most in need of cleanup.(5)
Neurotoxins
A biological or chemical substance or agent that has an adverse effect on
the
structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous
system.(4)
Nitrate
Plant nutrient and inorganic fertilizer that enters water supply sources
from
septic systems, animal feed lots, agricultural fertilizers, manure,
industrial
waste waters, sanitary landfills and garbage dumps.(1)
Nitric Oxide (NO)
A gas formed by combustion under high temperature and high pressure in an
internal combustion engine; changes into nitrogen dioxide in the ambient
air and
contributes to photochemical smog.(1)
Non-attainment area
Area that does not meet one or more of the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for the criteria pollutants designated in the Clean Air
Act.(1)
Oral toxicity
Ability of a pesticide to cause injury when ingested.(1)
Ozone depletion
Destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer which shields the earth from
ultraviolet radiation harmful to life. This destruction of ozone is
caused by
the breakdown of certain chlorine and/or-bromine containing compounds
(chlorofluorocarbons or halons), which break down when they reach the
stratosphere and then catalytically destroy ozone molecules.(1)
Ozone (O3)
Found in two layers of the atmosphere, the stratosphere and the
troposphere. In
the stratosphere (the atmospheric layer 7 to 10 miles or more above the
earth's
surface) ozone is a natural form of oxygen that provides a protective
layer
shielding the earth from ultraviolet radiation. In the troposphere (the
layer
extending up 7 to 10 miles from the earth's surface), ozone is a chemical
oxidant and major component of photochemical smog. It can seriously
impair the
respiratory system and is one of the most widespread of all the criteria
pollutants for which the Clean Air Act required EPA to set standards.
Ozone in
the troposphere is produced through complex chemical reactions of
nitrogen
oxides, which are among the primary pollutants emitted by combustion
sources;
hydrocarbons, released into the atmosphere through the combustion,
handling and
processing of petroleum products; and sunlight.(1)
Particulates
1. Fine liquid or solid particles such as dust, smoke, mist, fumes, or
smog
found in air or emissions. 2, Very small solids suspended in water. They
vary in
size, shape, density, and electrical charge, can be gathered together by
coagulation and flocculation.(1)
Parts per billion (ppb)/parts per
million
(ppm)
Units commonly used to express contamination ratios, as in establishing
the
maximum permissible amount of a contaminant in water, land, or air.(1)
Pathogens
Microorganisms that can cause disease in other organisms or in humans,
animals
and plants (e.g., bacteria, viruses, or parasites) found in sewage, in
runoff
from farms or rural areas populated with domestic and wild animals, and
in water
used for swimming. Fish and shellfish contaminated by pathogens, or the
contaminated water itself, can cause serious illness.(1)
PCBs
See Polychlorinated biphenyls.()
Performance standards
(1) Regulatory requirements limiting the concentrations of designated
organic
compounds, particulate matter, and hydrogen chloride in emissions from
incinerators. (2) Operating standards established by EPA for various
permitted
pollution control systems, asbestos inspections, and various program
operations
and maintenance requirements.(1)
Persistence
Refers to the length of time a compound stays in the environment, once
introduced. A compound may persist for less than a second or
indefinitely.(1)
Pest
An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed or other form of terrestrial or
aquatic plant or animal life that is injurious to health or the
environment.(1)
Pesticide
Substances or mixture thereof intended for preventing, destroying,
repelling, or
mitigating any pest. Also, any substance or mixture intended for use as a
plant
regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.(1)
Pesticide tolerance
The amount of pesticide residue allowed by law to remain in or on a
harvested
crop. EPA seeks to set these levels well below the point where the
compounds
might be harmful to consumers.(5)
Phenols
Organic compounds that are by-products of petroleum refining, tanning,
and
textile, dye, and resin manufacturing. Low concentrations cause taste and
odor
problems in water; higher concentrations can kill aquatic life and
humans.(1)
Photochemical smog
Air pollution caused by chemical reactions of various pollutants emitted
from
different sources.(1)
Picocuries per liter
(pCi/L)
A unit of measure for levels of radon gas.(1)
Pollutant Standard Index
(PSI)
Measure of adverse health effects of air pollution levels in major
cities.(1)
Pollution
Generally, the presence of matter or energy whose nature, location, or
quantity
produces undesired environmental effects. Under the Clean Water Act, for
example, the term is defined as the man-made or man-induced alteration of
the
physical, biological, chemical, and radiological integrity of water.(1)
Polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs)
A series of isomers and compounds used mainly as plasticizers, flame
retardants
and insulating materials. PCBs are potentially toxic and carcinogenic.
Toxic
effects generally involve damage to the skin and liver. PCBs have been
found to
cause reproductive problems in humans and cancer in laboratory animals.
Further
sale and new use of PCBs in the US was banned in 1979.(7)
Population at risk
A population subgroup that is more likely to be exposed to a chemical, or
is
more sensitive to the chemical, than is the general population.(1)
Potable water
Water that is safe for drinking and cooking.(1)
Radiation
Transmission of energy through space or any medium. Also known as radiant
energy.(1)
Radiation standards
Regulations that set maximum exposure limits for protection of the public
from
radioactive materials.(1)
Radioisotopes
Chemical variants of an element with potentially oncogenic, teratogenic,
and
mutagenic effects on the human body.(1)
Radon
A colorless naturally occurring, radioactive, inert gas formed by
radioactive
decay of radium atoms in soil or rocks.(1)
Radon daughters/radon
progeny
Short-lived radioactive decay products of radon that decay into
longer-lived
lead isotopes. The daughter isotopes can attach themselves to airborne
dust and
other particles and, if inhaled, damage the lining of the lung. Also
known as
radon decay products.(1)
Reference dose (RfD)
The concentration of a chemical known to cause health problems; also
referred to
as the ADI, or acceptable daily intake.(1)
Registration
Formal listing with EPA of a new pesticide before it can be sold or
distributed:
under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. EPA is
responsible for registration (pre-market licensing) of pesticides on the
basis
of data demonstrating no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or
the
environment when applied according to approved label directions.(1)
Registry
A system for collecting and maintaining, in a structured record,
information on
specific persons from a defined population. Preliminary analyses and
reviews are
performed.(2)
Release
Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment
of a
hazardous or toxic chemical or extremely hazardous substance.(1)
Remedial response
Long-term action that stops or substantially reduces a release or threat
of a
release of hazardous substances that is serious but not an immediate
threat to
public health.(1)
Right-to-Know
See Community Right-to-Know Reporting Requirements.()
Risk assessment
Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human health
and/or
the environment by the actual or potential presence and/or use of
specific
pollutants.(1)
Risk communication
The exchange of information about health or environmental risks among
risk
assessors and managers, the general public, news media, interest groups,
etc.(1)
Risk factor
Characteristic (e.g., race, sex, age, obesity) or variable (e.g.,
smoking,
occupational exposure level) associated with increased probability of a
toxic
effect.(1)
Siting
The process of choosing a location for a facility.(1)
Smog
Air pollution associated with oxidants. (See: photochemical smog.)(1)
Solvent
A substance (usually liquid) capable of dissolving or dispersing one or
more
other substances. Solvents include alcohols, aldehydes, benzene, toluene,
glycol
ethers, trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), formaldehyde
and
carbon tetrachloride. Drinking water is an important source of solvent
exposure;
solvents also pass rapidly through the skin and produce high levels in
the
bloodstream within minutes after skin exposure. Nearly all solvents can
cause
acute and chronic injury to the central nervous system. Many solvents are
associated with development of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease,
and
others can cause acute toxic damage to the liver. The US Public Health
Service
has conclusively established that benzene can cause leukemia, while other
solvents are suspected of being human carcinogens.(4), (6)
Superfund
The program operated under the legislative authority of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA),
and
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) that funds
and
carries out EPA solid waste emergency and long-term removal and remedial
activities. These activities include establishing the National Priorities
List,
investigating sites for inclusion on the list, determining their
priority, and
conducting and/or supervising the site cleanup and other remedial
actions.(1)
Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act
(SARA)
The 1986 legislation that broadened ATSDR's responsibilities in the areas
of
public health assessments, establishment and maintenance of toxicologic
databases, information dissemination, and medical education.(2)
Teratogens
Substances that cause malformation or serious deviation from normal
development
of embryos and fetuses.(8)
Tolerances
Permissible residue levels for pesticides in raw agricultural produce and
processed foods. Whenever a pesticide is registered for use on a food or
a feed
crop, a tolerance (or exemption from the tolerance requirement) must be
established. EPA establishes the tolerance levels, which are enforced by
the
Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture.(1)
Toxic Release Inventory
(TRI)
Database of toxic releases in the United States compiled from Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) Title III Section 313
reports.(1)
Toxicant/toxic
substance
A human-made chemical or mixture that presents a risk of death, disease,
injury
or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them.(1), (5)
Toxicological profile
An examination, summary and interpretation of a hazardous substance to
determine
levels of exposure and associated health effects.(1)
Toxicology
The study of the nature, effects and detection of poisons in living
organisms.(5)
Toxin
A naturally occuring substance or agent that may injure an exposed
organism.(5)
Transgenerational
effect
A health effect that occurs in the child or subsequent offspring of the
person
who is exposed to an environmental toxin/toxicant.(5)
Volatile organic compounds
(VOCs)
Substances containing carbon and different proportions of other elements
such as
hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulfur, or nitrogen; these
substances easily become vapors or gases. A significant number of VOCs
are
commonly used as solvents (paint thinners, lacquer thinners, degreasers,
and dry
cleaning fluids).(2)
Water quality criteria
Levels of water quality expected to render a body of water suitable for
its
designated use. Criteria are based on specific levels of pollutants that
would
make the water harmful if used for drinking, swimming, farming, fish
production,
or industrial processes.(1)
Wood treatment facility
An industrial facility that treats lumber and other wood products for
outdoor
use. The process employs chromated copper arsenate, which is regulated as
a
hazardous material.(1)
Wood-burning-stove
pollution
Air pollution caused by emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide,
total
suspended particulates, and polycyclic organic matter from wood-burning
stoves.(1)
1. Glossary of
Terms. US Environmental Protection Agency World Wide Website:
http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/offices.air/glossary.html
2. Glossary of
Terms.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry World Wide Website:
http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/glossary.html
3. Environmental Issues in Primary Care. Murdock, BS.
Minnesota
Department of Health: 1991.
4. Environmental Regulatory Glossary, 6th ed. Sullivan,
Thomas
FP. Rockville, MD: Government Institutes Inc., 1993.
5. Children's Environmental Health Network
6. Raising Children Toxic Free. Needleman, HL and
Landrigan, PJ.
New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994.
7. Dictionary of Dangerous Pollutants, Ecology and
Environment.
David F Tver. New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc., 1981.
8. Dictionary and Thesaurus of Environmental Health and
Safety.
US Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Safety and Health, Boca
Raton,
FL: CK Smoley, 1992.
9. Center for Bioenvironmental Research of Tulane and
Xavier
Universities, Environmental
Concepts
Made Easy Web Site: http://www.tmc.tulane.edu/ECME/
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