Glossary
ABC
Acute toxicity:
Harmful effect resulting from a single or short-term exposure to a substance.
Biodegradation:
Decomposition or breakdown of a substance under natural conditions (action of micro-organisms).
Bioaccumulation:
Progressive accumulation in living organisms of a chemical substance present in the environment.
Carcinogenicity:
Substance effects causing cancer.
Clastogenicity:
Substance effect that causes breaks in chromosome.
DEF
Embryotoxicity:
Harmful effect on embryo health.
Flash point:
The lowest temperature at which evaporation of a substance produces sufficient vapor to form an ignitable mixture with air.
Foetotoxicity
Harmful effect on foetus health
GHI
Genotoxicity:
Substance effect that causes damage to genes, including mutagenicity and clastogenicity.
GHS:
Global Harmonized System of chemicals classification.
Hazard:
Inherent substance property bearing a threat to health or environment.
MNO
Mutagenicity:
Substance effect that cause mutation of genes.
PQR
Persistence:
Refers to the length of time a compound stays in the environment, once introduced.
Reprotoxicity:
Substance effect on reproduction, including teratogenicity, embryotoxicity and harmful effects on fertility.
Repeated dose toxicity
Harmful effect after repeated short-term or long-term exposure to a substance.
STU
Sensitising:
Allergenic.
Sediment:
Topsoil, sand and minerals washed from the land into water, and forming in the end a layer at the bottom of rivers and sea.
Teratogenicity:
Substance effect on foetal morphology.
VWX
Vapor pressure:
A measure of a substance ‘s propensity to evaporate.
Volatile:
Any substance that evaporates readily.