Aldrin - An obsolete organo-chlorine insecticide- classified as a POP. Back
Allergenic - Anything (a chemical or otherwise) able to cause an allergic reaction. Back


Bioaccumulative - having the property of building-up in living things. Back
Bisphenol A (BPA) - An endocrine disrupting chemical, used in the manufacture of certain high quality clear plastics (e.g. baby feeding bottles), and used in the resin for lining tin cans. Back
BMI (body mass index) - is a measure of a person's body fat, based on height and weight. Back
Brominated flame retardants - Certain groups of bromine containing chemicals are used as fire retardants, due to their great stability. However, these same properties often make these chemicals very persistent in the environment. Back


Carcinogen - A chemical substance able to cause cancer. Back
Creosote - A petrochemical based wood preservative. Back


DDT - An obsolete organo-chlorine insecticide, classified as a POP. Banned in many countries in the 1970s following the discovery that it was building up in the bodies of animals and was linked to devastating impacts on certain bird populations. Back
Deca-BDE - A PBDE flame retardant used in large amounts in electrical appliances and computers. There are concerns regarding its tendency to bioaccumulate and its potential neurological effects. Back
DEHP - Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used phthalate and is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. Phthalates are relatively persistent in the environment and have been detected in drinking water, soil, household dust, wildlife, fatty foods (meat and dairy products), human blood and breast milk. Back
Dieldrin - An obsolete organo-chlorine insecticide, classified as a POP. Back
Dioxins - A highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative group of chemicals. They are highly carcinogenic and known endocrine disrupters. They are not manufactured on purpose but are produced inadvertently during the combustion of chemicals or substances, including PVC. They are classified as a POP. Back



EDCs - See Endocrine Disrupting chemicals. Back
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) - can interfere with the normal functioning of the hormone system of both people and wildlife in a number of ways to produce a wide range of adverse effects including reproductive, developmental and behavioural problems. Back
European Union ecolabel - This label is an official award for products which meet a high environmental standard. Manufacturers can apply to show it on a wide range of goods, including kitchen towel, toilet roll, washing powder and paint. Back
Exposure - Contact made between a chemical, physical, or biological agent and the outer boundary of an organism. Exposure is quantified as the amount of an agent available at the exchange boundaries of the organism (e.g., skin, lungs, gut). Back


Feminisation - The development of female characteristics in a male organism e.g. a fish. Back



Hazard - A potential source of harm. Back
HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) - a family of man-made compounds, including Lindane. Before being banned, it was widely used as an insecticide. Lindane can stll be found in some anti-louse lotions, creams and shampoos. Back
Heptachlor - An obsolete organo-chlorine pesticide classified as a POP. Back


Mirex - An obsolete organo-chlorine insecticide classified as a POP. Back
Musks - Musks are used to fragrance a wide variety of toiletries, cosmetics and cleaning products. Originally natural musks were used, but these have now been replaced by synthetic ones. Artificial musks, being persistent and bioaccumulative, are widespread environmental contaminants that have been measured in lakes, sediment, rain and river water. Back



ng/g lipid - In the biomonitoring results, levels of OCPs, PCBs and PBDEs were reported in "ng/g lipid" - ie the amount of the chemical (ng = nanogram) is expressed with respect to the amount of lipid (fat) in the serum. (ng/g is equivalent to 'parts per billion'). Back
ng/g whole blood - In the biomonitoring results levels of phthalates, artificial musks and perfluorinated chemicals are expressed in "ng/g whole blood". This means the concentration of the chemical found in the blood as a whole, not just the serum. (ng/g is equivalent to 'parts per billion'). Back



OCPs - (Organo-Chlorine Pesticides) Many pesticides developed and in widespread use in the 1950s, '60s and '70s were OCPs. Many have now been banned in the UK after they were belatedly found to be highly persistent in the environment and cause long-term toxic effects in wildlife. For example, populations of birds of prey were devastated due to DDT causing their egg-shells to thin and break.Back
Organic - (Referring to chemicals) Chemicals based on carbon atoms. Such chemicals tend to be fat-loving and don't dissolve in water. Back
Organic - (Referring to food production) Organic farming severely restricts the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Instead, organic farmers rely on developing healthy, fertile soils and grow a mixture of crops. Livestock are reared without the routine use of drugs and antibiotics which is common practice in intensive livestock farming. Back



Parfum - Collective name given to up to 300 different chemicals used to produce a fragrance in cosmetics and toiletries ingredients lists, can be any of up to 100 potentially persistent or allergenic chemicals. Back
PBDE - Poly Brominated Diphenyl Ethers. A specific group of brominated fire retardant chemicals. Some have been phased out from use due to concerns about their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Back
PC - Polycarbonate Plastic. This kind of plastic contains bisphenol A, which is a hormone disrupting chemical. Polycarbonate plastics can often be identified by looking on the packaging for PC7 or looking inside the recycling triangle for the number 7. Back
PCBs - Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls. These are a large group of chemicals. Developed in the 1950s & used as electrical insulators in a wide range of electrical appliances - especially transformers. They are very stable compounds and persist in the environment for long periods - even decades. They are now found in the environment all over the world, including breast milk. They were initially considered to be of low toxicity but now there is increasing evidence of subtle adverse toxic effects - even at low doses. PCBs are classified as POPs. Back
PFCs - A group of chemicals known as perfluorinated chemicals that are heat stable, extremely resistant to degradation and environmental breakdown, and repel both water and oil. They are used in various applications, ranging from the manufacture of non-stick pans, stain/water repellents for clothing and furniture to floor waxes and paper coatings. These chemicals are accumulating in the environment and have been found in a wide range of wildlife, as well as in humans. Back
PFUnA - Perfluoroundecanoic acid, which is a member of the PFC family of chemicals. Back
POPs - Persistent Organic Pollutants, Chemicals which are highly toxic, persistent and bioacccumulative and also capable of undergoing long-range transport. 12 POPs are currently identified by the United Nations and slated for banning. They are: dioxins, furans, PCBs, DDT, mirex, toxaphene, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane and HCB. Back
p, p'-DDE - A breakdown product of the organochlorine pesticide DDT. Back
Perfluorinated chemicals - see PFCs. Back
Persistent chemical - A chemical that does not break down very readily in the environment and therefore sticks around in the environment for a long time. Back
Pesticide - A collective term for chemicals whose properties are capable of killing unwanted organisms. It includes herbicides - which kill plants, insecticides which kill insects, fungicides which kill fungus etc. Back
Phthalates - (pronounced thalates) are a group of chemicals some of which are considered to be EDCs. Some are added to PVC plastics to make them more soft and flexible, and they are also added to a wide range of cosmetics. Since they can leach (leak) out of their products they can lead to significant human exposures. Due to safety concerns there is currently an EU ban on their addition to young children's (under the age of 3 yrs) toys intended to be placed in the mouth e.g. dummies and teething rings. Back
Precautionary principle - Taking action to prevent environmental degradation to address the threat of serious or irreversible damage, despite lack of full scientific certainty. Back
PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride. A plastic polymer (large molecule) with many different uses. Its physical characteristics are altered (e.g. made flexible) by the addition of different chemical additives, some of which are of concern. PVC also releases very hazardous chemicals called dioxins upon burning. Back



Risk - The probability of injury, disease, or death from exposure to a chemical agent or a mixture of chemicals. Back
Risk assessment - The determination of potential adverse health effects from exposure to chemicals. Back


Synthetic - Man-made rather than naturally occurring. Back


TBT - Tributyltin. This is a synthetic tin compound predominantly used as an anti-foulant additive to paints. Painted on the hulls of ships it reduces fouling of the hull by marine organisms. Its biocidal (killing) properties are also utilised in other everyday items such as odour eaters. Back
TCO eco label - An environmental labelling scheme for computer equipment operated by The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees (TCO). Established in 1992 (TCO1992) the scheme has been updated twice since then in 1995 and 1999. The current requirements (TCO99) cover a wide range of issues; environment, ergonomics, usability, emission of electrical and magnetic fields, energy consumption, and electrical and fire safety. Back
Toxic substance - A chemical substance or agent which may cause an adverse effect or effects to biological systems. Back
Toxicity - The degree to which a chemical substance elicits a deleterious or adverse effect upon the biological system of an organism. Back
Triclosan - An anti-bacterial chemical based on an anti-biotic. Triclosan has also been discovered in breast milk. Back


VOCs - Volatile Organic Chemicals. Organic chemicals often used as solvents in paints, varnishes and cleaning agents etc. They contribute to air pollution, which is linked to asthma and other breathing problems. Back
vPvB - very Persistent very Bioaccumulative. Back


White paper - Written government/EU policy position statement. After consultation, White Papers are normally translated into draft legislation. Back