Wordlist
The word list contains words, concepts, abbreviations and acronyms occurring in texts on this website or in linked documents. In some cases, links are made to more information.
A
Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
An estimate of the amount of a substance in food or drinking water that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without presenting an appreciable risk to health. It is usually expressed as milligrams of the substance per kilogram of body weight per day and applies to chemical substances such as food additives, pesticide residues and veterinary drugs.
Accounting report
An excerpt from the Swedish Chemical Agency’s Products Register containing data about the substances a company has reported.
Actor
Means all companies which in some way are part of the supply chain making products. Examples of these companies are manufacturers, importers downstream users in a supply chain.
Active substance for pesticides
A substance that acts against harmful organisms, such as pests or diseases, which affect plants.
Acute exposure
A one-off or very short term exposure to a substance, usually less than 24 hours.
Adequate intake
A dietary recommendation used when there isn't enough data to calculate an average requirement. An adequate intake is the average nutrient level consumed daily by a typical healthy population that is assumed to be adequate for the population's needs.
ADME
An abbreviation for "absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion", the four key processes which describe how drugs and chemicals get into the body, what happens to them while they are there, and how they are eliminated.
Adverse effect
A change in the health, growth, behaviour or development of an organism that impairs its ability to develop or survive.
Adverse outcome pathway
A method of visualising a chain of events linked by causality that may lead to a harmful outcome for organisms or the environment.
Allergen
A substance capable of stimulating hypersensitivity reaction.
Alloy
A metallic material, homogenous in macroscopic scale, consisting of one or several elements combined in such a way that they cannot be separated in a mechanical way.
Alternative method
A method which can be used in research to replace traditional animal testing with non-invasive methods or substitution. See also replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs).
Amino acid
The constituent block that makes up proteins. Some can be produced by the human body whereas others can be obtained only through the diet.
Antagonistic
Describes a substance that acts in opposition to another substance, thus cancelling out its effect; for example, a hormone that, when released in the body, prevents another hormone from working.
Antifouling products
Products used to control the growth and settlement of fouling organisms (microbes and higher forms of plant or animal species) on vessels, aquaculture equipment or other structures used in water.
Antimicrobial resistance
The ability of microbes to grow in the presence of substances specifically designed to kill them; for example, some human infections are now resistant to antibiotics, raising concerns about their widespread use.
ARM
Accelerated Risk Management.
Article
Commodity, for example a chair or textiles containing or treated with a chemical product.
Means an object which during production is given a special shape, surface or design which determines its function to a greater degree than does its chemical composition. (The REACH Regulation)
Assessment factor
Pertaining to a substance, it is a factor used by risk assessors to derive a reference dose that is considered safe or below which an adverse effect is unlikely to occur. The value of the safety factor depends on the toxic effect, the size and type of the population to be protected and the quality of the (eco)toxicological and exposure data available.
B
Background level
1.The concentration of a substance in an environmental media (air, water, or soil) that occurs naturally or is not the result of human activities. 2. In exposure assessment the concentration of a substance in a defined control area, during a fixed period of time before, during, or after a data-gathering operation. (ecology.dictionary.org)
BBP
Bensylbutylphalate.
Benchmark dose
The minimum dose of a substance that produces a clear, low level health risk, usually in the range of a 1-10% change in a specific toxic effect such as cancer induction.
Bioaccumulating substances
Substances that accumulate in tissue.
Bioavailability
A term to describe how much of a substance gets into the blood through a variety of routes, including the diet. It may refer to vitamins, additives, pesticides or medicines.
Biocide
Biocide is latin and means destroying living organisms.
Biocidal Products Regulation
The making available on the market and use of biocidal products is regulated in the EU Biocidal Products Regulation, and during a transitional period also in Swedish legislation. The aim of the Biocidal Products Regulation is to harmonise the rules on the supply and use of biocidal products and at the same time ensure a high level of protection for human health, animals and the environment.
Biodiversity
A term used to describe the variety of living organisms existing in a specific environment.
Biological pesticide
A biological pesticide shall mean a biotechnical organism that is produced specifically to prevent or deter animals, plants or microorganisms, including viruses, from causing damage or detriment to human health or damage to property. (Chapter 14, Section 6, the Environmental Code).
Biomagnification
Increased concentration of lipophilic environmental toxins in the food chain.
Biosphere
All living organisms.
Biotechnical organism
A biotechnical organism shall mean a product that is produced specifically as a control agent or for any other technical purpose and which, wholly or in part, consists of or contains living microorganisms, including viruses, or nematodes, insects or arachnids. (Chapter 14 kap, Section 3, the Environmental Code).
Biotope
Type of nature conditions, living environment.
BIT
Benzisotiazolinone.
BPA Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A, also 4,4'-dihydroxy-2,2-diphenylpropane and BPA, is one of the world’s most common plastic chemicals. Bisphenol A is an organic compound where two phenol molecules are bound to the same coal in a propane chain.
Brominated flame retardants
Material used to protect against fire in plastic, rubber and textile and which contains the substance bromine.
C
Carcinogenicity
Cancer-causing property of a substance when an animal or human is exposed to it.
Candidate list
List containing SVHC-substances in accordance with Article 59 in the REACH Regulation. The substances are candidates to be included in Annex XIV of REACH, which means that authorisation will be required to use them.
CARACAL
CARACAL is an expert group which advises the European Commission and ECHA on questions related to REACH and CLP. It was founded as "European Commission Working Group on the Practical Preparations for REACH" in May 2004.
CAS number
Chemical substance identification number, assigned and registered by the Chemical Abstract Services (CAS), Columbus, Ohio.
CE marking
Conformité Européenne, labelling symbol. A CE mark on a product means that the manufacturer or importer certifies that it meets EU health, safety and environmental requirements.
CEFIC
European Chemical Industry Council.
Certification
Certificate/proof of compliance with certain standards set up for an area by a standardisation body.
Chemical/chemical product
Chemical substance and preparations (mixtures) of chemical substances. Chemical substances may be especially regulated products, i.e. pesticides and other products.
Chemical pesticide
A ‘chemical pesticide’ shall mean a chemical product that is intended to prevent or deter animals, plants or microorganisms, including viruses, from causing damage or detriment to human health or damage to property (Chapter 14, Section 5, the Environmental Code).
Chemical residue
Tiny amounts of chemicals found in foodstuffs which have been exposed to pesticides, environmental toxins or related products.
Chronic exposure
A long-term constant or intermittent exposure to a substance which may have an impact on health over time.
Chlorinated paraffins
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, often used as softeners och flame retardants in plastic. Present in short, medium and long chained variants.
CLEEN
Chemical Legislation European Enforcement Network.
CLH
Classification and Labelling Harmonised.
CLP
EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures.
CLRTAP
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution.
CMR
Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, toxic to Reproduction; CMR-substances.
Cocktail effect
Combined effect of a mixture of chemicals that may be greater than the effect of each single substance by itself.
COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand (measure of the amount of oxygen used when there is a complete chemical degradation of organic substances in water).
Cohiba/COHIBA
Control of hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea region. (HELCOM)
Comparative assessment
Required in law, an assessment designed to compare the safety of a genetically modified (GM) organism against its non-GM bred counterpart.
Commercial agent
Person or company who acts in the place of a manufacturer or an importer.
Competent authority
Or CA is one or several national authorities appointed by each EU member state to implement the legislation or represent the member country in workgroups and expert groups.
Consent to a commercial agent
The Swedish Chemicals Agency may allow a commercial agent to fulfil the obligation to report import of a chemical product or biotechnical organism to Sweden in the place of the person responsible for the import.
Conservative assumption
An estimate that tends to err on the side of caution or gives a 'worst case scenario'. Often used in risk assessment to ensure that as much risk as possible is taken into account.
Consolidated version
Compiled version of a regulatory text which include all amendments in their respective place in the basic piece of legislation.
Contained use
Shall mean an activity in which organisms are genetically modified, cultured, stored, used, transported, destroyed, disposed of or used in any other way, and for which specific containment measures are used to limit their contact with the general population and the environment. (Chapter 13, Section 5, the Environmental Code). Can also apply to chemicals at synthesis, for instance.
Contaminant
Any substance occurring in foodstuffs that was not added intentionally. Contaminants can arise from packaging, food processing and transportation, farming practices or the use of animal medicines. The term does not include contamination from insects or rodents.
Copenhagen Chemicals Charter
Document raising expectations facing the overhaul of the EU chemicals policy; signed by 100 organisations in 2000.
Co-resistance
Genetically-conferred resistance in an organism (e.g. the resistance of a plant to a disease) that results from two or more linked genes being passed down the generations.
Critical effect
The adverse effect seen at the lowest dose when a vulnerable population is exposed to a substance such as an environmental or food toxin. This can relate to humans as well as to other species such as animals, plants or microbes.
Cross contamination
The process by which microbes are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect.
Cumulative assessment group
Chemicals that are considered as a group because they are likely to act on the body in the same way.
Cumulative effect
A term used to describe how exposure to more than one chemical might affect the body. Used to explain long-term exposure to mixtures of chemicals, such as pesticides or additives.
Cumulative risk assessment
A method of assessing risks to health or the environment posed by multiple substances such as chemicals.
Customs tariff
Combined nomenclature of the European Union. It allows compiling, exchanging and publishing statistical data about EU trade with countries outside the EU. The tariff is also used to compile and distribute data on trade between the EU member states. (Council Regulation (EEC) No2658/87).
D
DBP
Dibutylphthalate.
DCHP
Dicyclohexylphthalate.
DDE
4,4'Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene; degradation product of DDT, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroetan.
deca-BDE
Decabromodiphenylether.
Deficiency
A lack of a necessary factor in, for example, the diet or the environment which results in harm to the growth of an organism.
DEET
N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide.
Degradation product
Chemical that is formed when a substance breaks down or decomposes.
Degradation rate
A way of describing how quickly a substance (e.g. pollution in a river) will break down and be eliminated from an environment.
DEHP
Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.
Deliberate release
‘Deliberate release’ shall mean any intentional introduction of genetically modified organisms into the environment without containment. (Chapter 13, Section 6, the Swedish Environmental Code).
Derivative
Chemical compound that can be derived from or produced from another chemical compound.
Detergent
Washing and cleaning product.
Developmental readiness
The maturation of bodily functions necessary to metabolise ‘non-milk foods’, i.e. other than breast-milk or formula, and the neurodevelopmental changes necessary for safe and effective progression from suckling to spoon- and self-feeding, including the infant’s apparent emerging interest in non-milk foods and feeding.
Developmental toxicity
Any adverse effect on the development of the unborn, babies, infants or children when exposed to a toxic substance.
DHNUP
Di(branched and straight C7-C11) alkylphthtalates.
DIBP
Diisobutylphthalate.
DIDP
Diisodecylphthalate.
Dietary exposure
For the purposes of risk assessment, measurement of the amount of a substance consumed by a person or animal in their diet that is intentionally added or unintentionally present (e.g. a nutrient, additive or pesticide).
Diffuse spread
Cumulative exposure of a chemical substance in an area where the release sources are of an indefinable character, for example by being many, small, variable, etcetera.
DIHP
Di(branched C6-C8) alkylphthalates.
Dioxin
Persistent, chlorine-containing organic pollutant which occurs as by-product of industrial processes. It can accumulate in the food chain and pose a serious public and environmental health risk.
DINP
Diisononylphthalate.
Distributor
Means any natural or legal person established within the Community, including a retailer, who only stores and places on the market a substance, on its own or in a mixture, for third parties. (The REACH Regulation)
DNEL
Derived no effect level; a limit value.
Dose
The total amount of a substance (e.g. a chemical or nutrient) given to, consumed or absorbed by an individual organism, population or ecosystem.
Dose addition
A process to establish the response of organisms to a mixture of chemicals with similar toxicity. This involves adding up their individual effects to predict the likely impact of the overall mixture.
Dose response
The relationship between the amount of a substance to which an individual organism, population or ecosystem is exposed and the way in which it responds (e.g. in terms of toxicity).
Downstream user
Means any natural or legal person established within the Community, other than the manufacturer or the importer, who uses a substance, either on its own or in a mixture, in the course of his industrial or professional activities. A distributor or a consumer is not a downstream user. A re-importer exempted pursuant to Article 2(7)(c) shall be regarded as a downstream user. (REACH)
E
EC/EU
European Communities/European market, European Union.
Echa
European Chemicals Agency.
EC number
Seven-digit identification number for chemical substances on the EU market. Substances that were on the market before 18 September are not counted as existing substances and start with 200 or 300.
Substances notified/reported after 18 September 1981 are included in the list of new substances (ELINCS) and start with 400. The number series that starts with 500 includes ‘No longer polymers’ (NLP), i.e. substances which at the first listing were considered polymers and thus not required to be listed in EINECS.
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living components (e.g. air, water and mineral soil). A healthy ecosystem is a finely balanced system where animals, plants and microbes live in harmony with their environment.
Ecotoxicology
The study of the adverse impacts of substances, particularly chemicals, in relation to the environment and public health.
ECVAM
European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (to using animals).
EDC/EDS
Endocrine-disrupting chemical/compound/Endocrine-disrupting substance.
EEA
European Environment Agency (Copenhagen).
EEB
European Environmental Bureau. Cooperation body of non-governmental organisations.
EES
European Economic Sphere (EES countries are Island, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the EU member states).
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority.
Emerging risk
A risk to human, animal or plant health resulting from a new source or increased susceptibility or exposure to an existing source.
Endocrine active substance
Chemical that can interact with the body's endocrine (hormone) system.
Endocrine disruptor
A substance that adversely affects the endocrine (hormone) system leading to negative effects for organisms and/or their offspring (see also "Hormone disruptive substances").
Endogenous substances
Describes substances which naturally occur within the body; for example, cholesterol.
Enforcement guidance
Enforcement guidance includes assessment, follow-up and coordination of the operative enforcement, and support and advice to municipalities.
Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)
The process of assessing potential harm to the environment caused by a substance, activity or natural occurrence. This may include the introduction of GM plants, the use of pesticides, or the spread of plant pests.
Environmental toxicity
The negative impact of a substance or activity (e.g. chemicals, GM crop introduction) on a population of animals, plants or microbes in the environment (e.g. water, soil).
Enzyme
Specific type of protein with a catalytic function. Enzymes are part of the chemical processes of the human body without being absorbed themselves.
Ester
Substance formed by acid and alcohol.
ETU
Ethylenethiourea.
EU regulatory framework
The name given to policies and laws in Europe which collectively protect the consumer.
EUR-Lex
European Lex. The EU database portal for publishing EU law, particularly legislation and law practice, and the decision processes between the Commission and the institutions.
Exemption
Waiver.
Existing substance
Substance that was used within the EU before 1 September 1981 and listed in EINECS.
Exogenous substance
Describes substances within the human body which have arisen from an external source in the diet or environment; for example, veterinary medicine residues.
Exposure
Extent to which human beings and the environment are in contact with/exposed to hazardous substances.
Exposure assessment
One of the key steps in risk assessment, this relates to a thorough evaluation of who, or what, has been exposed to a hazard and a quantification of the amounts involved.
Exposure scenario
Means the set of conditions, including operational conditions and risk management measures, that describe how the substance is manufactured or used during its life-cycle and how the manufacturer or importer controls, or recommends downstream users to control, exposures of humans and the environment. These exposure scenarios may cover one specific process or use or several processes or uses as appropriate. (REACH)
F
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization.
First-tier supplier
A manufacturer or a party who enters a product into Sweden with the intention to place it on the market.
Flame retardants
See brominated flame retardants.
Full study report
Means a complete and comprehensive description of the activity performed to generate the information. This covers the complete scientific paper as published in the literature describing the study performed or the full report prepared by the test house describing the study performed. (The REACH Regulation)
Fungicide
Pesticide to combat fungus.
G
GHS
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling.
Generic name
A company may apply to use a descriptive name (generic name) of a component in a product and put that name on the label or a safety data sheet instead of an unambiguous chemical name.
Genetically modified organism (GMO)
An organism in which the genetic material is changed in a way that is not naturally occurring by mating or by recombination.
Genetic organism
Biological entity that can breed and transfer genetic material.
Genotoxicity
When a substance is capable of damaging the DNA in cells.
Good laboratory practice (GLP)
A standardised way of planning, performing and reporting laboratory-based studies to ensure a high standard of quality and reliability.
Groundwater
Water in the soil or in rock.
H
Half-life
The time required for 50% of a substance present in an individual, population or ecosystem to break down or be eliminated naturally. It is often used to describe the disappearance of potentially harmful substances such as chemical toxins.
Halon
Have been used in fire extinguishers; trade name for brominated halogenated chlorofluoro carbons (HCFCs).
Handling
The ‘handling’ of chemical products or biotechnical organisms shall mean any activity or measure involving manufacture, processing, treatment, packaging, storage, transport, use, disposal, destruction, processing, sale, transfer and similar procedures. (Chapter 14, Section 4, the Environmental Code).
Hazard
An inherent property in a substance that may cause unwanted effects.
Hazard assessment
Identification of hazard and determines the correlation between dose and respons for observed, harmful effects.
Hazard identification
Identification of the harmful effects of a substance due to its inherent properties.
HBCDD
Hexabromocyklododecane.
HCBD
Hexachlorobutadiene
HELCOM
Helsinki Commission.
Herbicide
Pesticide to combat weed.
HICC
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexen carboxaldehyde.
Highly fluorinated substances
Highly fluorinated substances include both per och poly fluorinated substances.
Hormone disrupting substances
Substances affecting the hormonal systems and which may cause damage to organisms, populations or ecosystems.
Host plant
A plant on which a pest lives or by which it is nourished.
Human biomonitoring
A direct measurement of the level of toxic chemical compounds present in the body. Often, these measurements are made using blood and urine.
I
ICCA
International Council of Chemical Associations.
ICCM
International Conference on Chemicals Management. SAICM’s international conference on chemicals management.
Identified use
Means a use of a substance on its own or in a mixture, or a use of a mixture that is intended by an actor in the supply chain, including his own use, or that is made known to him in writing by an immediate downstream user. (REACH)
IKEM
Innovation and chemical industries in Sweden.
Immunotoxicity
Any adverse effect on the immune system (e.g. allergy or inflammation) that results from exposure to toxic substances.
Import/importer
Used in the Swedish Environmental Code, rules and regulations with the meaning to transfer an article to Sweden from another country outside the EU, so-called third country. This is based on how the Swedish Customs and the tax authorities define import. The Swedish versions of the EU legislation use import and export also for trade between the EU member states.
Import: Means the physical introduction into the customs territory of the Community;
Importer: means any natural or legal person established within the Community who is responsible for import (The REACH Regulation).
Industry chemical
Chemical product used industrially, i.e. as a raw material or a commodity chemical. The commodity chemical may be repackaged in smaller packagings to become a consumer product, for example acetone in a nail polish remover.
Inorganic compound
Chemical that does not generally contain carbon; for example, water, oxygen, sodium chloride.
Insecticide
Pesticide to combat insects.
In silico
Research theoretical method, particularly involving computer models, to predict the likely toxicological, or other, effects of substances.
Intake
The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet.
Intermediate
Means a substance that is manufactured for and consumed in or used for chemical processing in order to be transformed into another substance. (The REACH Regulation)
International Training Programme (ITP)
Since 2007, the Swedish Chemicals Agency has had courses in chemicals control, which are primarily aimed at government employees from other countries who establish or develop their own chemicals control.
Intolerance
A reaction to a substance that is not caused by an immune response. Intolerances are more common than allergies but are less serious.
Invasive species
Animal, plant or other organism introduced by man into places out of its natural range of distribution.
In vitro
Studies on different systems with isolated organs and cell systems.
In vivo
Research method which involves testing individual live animals or populations of live animals.
ISO
International Organization for Standardization.
Isolate
A single substance or culture of microbes obtained in pure form from a mixture of substances or bacteria.
J
K
KIFS
Short for the Swedish Chemicals Agency’s code of statutes, regulations.
L
Labelling obligation
Requirements made in Regulation (EU) No 1272/2008 relating to the release of chemical products on the market. The obligation means that chemical products shall be classified and labelled with regard to the danger to health and the environment.
Legal definition
Concept defined in a legal text.
Limit of detection (LOD)
The lowest concentration of a substance that can be detected using standard tests but which is too small to be measured with certainty.
Limit of quantification (LOQ)
The lowest concentration of a substance that can be measured with certainty using standard tests.
Lipid
Fat and fat-like substance.
LOAEL
The lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) is the lowest level of a substance that has been observed to cause harm in an exposed population.
Low dose effect
Effect which occurs at low doses of a substance, i.e. below those doses traditionally used for toxicological studies.
Lower bound estimate
An estimate of the minimum exposure to a potentially harmful substance, normally zero, which takes into account normal consumption of food which contains negligible amounts of the substance.
Lowest observed adverse effect level
The lowest level of a substance that has been observed to cause harm in an exposed population.
Low risk biocidal product
Biocidal product which does not contain any other active substances than those listed in Annex IA to the Biocidal Directive and which does not contain any potentially harmful substance (definition according to Section 2 of the Biocidal Products Ordinance (2000:338). A potentially harmful substance is a substance that is not an active substance but which might nevertheless have negative effects on human beings, animals or the environment.
Low-risk active substance (according to the EU Regulation on plant protection products)
Low-risk active substances are substances that will only pose a low risk to human and animal health as well as the environment. Which substances that are classified as low-risk active substances are decided at EU level.
M
Manufacture/manufacturing
Means production or extraction of substances in the natural state. (The REACH Regulation)
Manufacturer
Means any natural or legal person established within the Community who manufactures a substance within the Community. (The REACH Regulation)
Margin of exposure (MOE)
A tool used in risk assessment to explore safety concerns arising from the presence of a potentially toxic substance in food or animal feed.
Margin of safety
The gap between the actual intake of a substance by a given population and the estimated daily dose over a lifetime that experts consider to be safe.
Maximum residue level for pesticides (MRL)
The maximum amount of a pesticide residue allowed in foods or animal feeds, expressed as milligrams per kilogram.
Mechanism of action
The process by which a substance produces an effect on a living organism.
Mechanism of toxicity
The specific sequence of events explaining how a substance causes a toxic effect.
Mercury
Metallic element.
Meta-analysis
A statistical method which enables the results of similar studies to be pooled in order to determine any significant trends.
Metabolism
The total sum of physical and chemical processes that occur within living organisms.
Metabolite
Substance formed as a consequence of metabolism in an organism.
Metabolomics
The study of an organism's metabolic state through the systematic analysis of its metabolites within cells or biological fluids (e.g. blood, urine).
Mixture
Means a mixture or solution composed of two or more substances. (The REACH Regulation)
Monomer
Means a substance which is capable of forming covalent bonds with a sequence of additional like or unlike molecules under the conditions of the relevant polymer-forming reaction used for the particular process. (The REACH Regulation)
Morphology
Biological term, form and structure of a tissue.
Mutagen
Substance that may harm the genes.
Mutation
A permanent, typically negative, change in the genetic material in a cell which, in most cases, can be passed onto any offspring.
Mycotoxin
Toxin produced by certain species of mould which are dangerous to humans and animals.
N
Nano
A nanometre is one millionth millimetre or a billionth metre. The word nano comes from Greek and means dwarf.
Nanomaterial
Natural or manufactured material which contains miniscule single units typically measuring between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter (a human hair is 80,000-100,000 nanometers wide).
Nanoscience
The study of nanomaterials.
No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL)
The greatest concentration or amount of a substance at which no detectable adverse effects occur in an exposed population.
Non-monotonic dose-response curve (NMDRC)
A complex relationship between the dose of a substance and its effect, such that instead of a certain response simply increasing or decreasing with dose, the curve may be for example "U" shaped.
Not chemically modified substance
Means a substance whose chemical structure remains unchanged, even if it has undergone a chemical process or treatment, or a physical mineralogical transformation, for instance to remove impurities. (The REACH Regulation)
Neurotoxicology
The understanding of how toxins affect the brain and the nervous system.
Non-toxic environment
One of Sweden’s 16 national environmental quality objectives.
O
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Official statistics of Sweden
Much of the statistical data from the Swedish Chemicals Agency is part of Official Statistics of Sweden, and forms the basis for research, joint planning and public information.
Operative enforcement
Direct enforcement of a party carrying out an activity or a measure.
Oral exposure
Exposure via the mouth; food for example.
Organic compound
Chemical containing carbon; often derived from plants, animals or bacteria.
Organism
A living thing such as humans, animals, plants and microbes (e.g. bacteria, viruses)
OSPAR
Oslo-Paris Convention to protect the marine environment in the North-East Atlantic.
Ozone depleting
Substance that might imply harm to the structure or function of the ozone layer of the stratosphere. Often persistent organic substances which react with the ozone and lower it in such a way that the sun’s UV rays in too high an extent reach the surface of the earth.
P
PAH
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; many of which have harmful effects.
Parallell import
Means that an importer in addition to the manufacturer/ distributor of the right holder imports a protected product, for example a branded product, and sells it on the domestic market without permission from the distributor operating there. An important prerequisite is that the article has to have been placed on the market by the right holder or with the right holder’s consent.
Parallell import is permitted on the EU internal market and is also encouraged by the Commission for competitive reasons to level out prices on the different national markets.
PBDEs
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers.
PBT
Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic. Chemicals with PBT properties are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic.
PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyl.
PCN
Polychlorinated naphthalene.
PCP
Pentachlorophenol was previously used for surface treatment (dipping) and impregnation of wood to protect against rotting and growth of discolouring bruising mushrooms. PCP was banned as an active substance in wood preservatives by the end of the 1970s due to its serious health and environmental properties.
Perchlorethylene
Perchlorethylene is a colorless liquid with a high density. It has a sweet odor, detectable by most people. Due to that it is nonflammable, highly stable and volatile, it is often used in dry cleaning. However, it is also cancerogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction and for the environment.
Perfluorinated substances
Perfluorinated substances are a group of organic substances characterised by the fact that they are fully fluorinated, i.e. they contain a coal link where each hydrogen atom has been replaced by a fluoro atom. The concept highly fluorinated substances is sometimes used as a generic term for per and poly fluorinated substances.
Periodic system
Table of elements established in the 1860s when it was concluded that the chemical and physical properties of the elements varied periodically with the atomic weight.
Permissible level
Maximum level of a substance or other agent to which people can safely be exposed over a specified period of time.
Pest
A living organism (e.g. an insect, rodent, weed, fungus or virus) that is harmful to plants and/or their products (e.g. seeds, fruits)
Pesticides
Chemical products and biotechnical organisms, which require an authorisation. A pesticide can either be a biocidal product or a plant protection product.
A pesticide is defined in the Swedish Environmental Code as a chemical or biological product intended to prevent or deter animals, plants or microorganisms from causing damage or detriment to human health or damage to property. (Chapter 14, Section 5, the Environmental Code).
PET
Polyethyleneterepfhtalate.
PFAS
Poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances. A group of persistent chemical substances.
PFBS
Perfluorobutylsulphonate. Persistent chemical substance belong to the PFAS group.
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid.
PFOA
Perfluoroctanoic acid.
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonate. Persistent chemical substance belong to the PFAS group.
Phase-in substance
A substance that satisfies certain criteria. (The REACH Regulation)
Phthalate
Ester of phthalic acid, often used as a softener in plastic.
PIC
Prior Informed Consent. The Rotterdam Convention (1998) means that export of hazardous pesticides and chemicals is not permitted unless the receiving country accept the import.
Placing on the market
Making a product available to someone else.
The REACH Regulation: supplying or making available, whether in return for payment or free of charge, to a third party. Import shall be deemed to be placing on the market.
The Biocidal Products Regulation: the first making available on the market of a biocidal product or of a treated article.
The Plant Protection Product Regulation: the holding for the purpose of sale within the Community, including offering for sale or any other form of transfer, whether free of charge or not, and the sale, distribution, and other forms of transfer themselves, but not the return to the previous seller. Release for free circulation into the territory of the Community shall constitute placing on the market for the purposes of this Regulation.
Plant protection products
Plant protection products are primarily used to protect plants and plant products within agriculture, agriculture and horticulture. Their task is for example to protect plant and parts of plants against attacks of vermin, fungi or competitive plants.
Plant Protection Product Regulation
The purpose of the EU Plant Protection Product Regulation is to ensure a high level of protection of both human and animal health and the environment and at the same time to improve the functioning of the internal market through the harmonisation of the rules on the placing on the market of plant protection products, while improving agricultural production.
Point of departure
The point on a dose–response curve established from experimental data used to derive a safe level.
Polyfluorinated substances
Polyfluorinated substances are as much perfluorinated substances, but they are not fully fluorinated. Polyflourinated substances still have hydrogen atoms in the coal chain and are not as stable as perfluorinated substances but can be degraded. Examples of polyfluorinated substances are fluorotelomers and fluoropolymers. These may contain residues of perfluorinated substances and may degrade to perfluorinated substances in the environment. Polyfluorinated substances are often used instead of perfluorinated substances in many applications today.
The concept highly fluorinated substances is sometimes used as a generic term for per and poly fluorinated substances.
Polymer
Means a substance consisting of molecules characterised by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units. Such molecules must be distributed over a range of molecular weights wherein differences in the molecular weight are primarily attributable to differences in the number of monomer units. A polymer comprises the following:
(a) a simple weight majority of molecules containing at least three monomer units which are covalently bound to at least one other monomer unit or other reactant;
(b) less than a simple weight majority of molecules of the same molecular weight.
In the context of this definition a ‘monomer unit’ means the reacted form of a monomer substance in a polymer. (REACH)
POP
Persistent Organic Pollutant.
POPs Convention
Also the Stockholm Convention, signed 2001 for the protection of persistent organic pollutants.
Population threshold
A level set within a population to indicate when a significant change in risk occurs; for example, the point at which a certain number of people has been exposed to a chemical.
Potency
A measure of the capacity of a chemical substance to exert an effect, described in terms of the relationship between the dose used and the magnitude of the resulting effect.
Potential harmful substance
A substance that is not an active substance but with a property to have a negative effect on human beings, animals or the environment.
PP
Polypropene.
PPP principle
Polluter pays principle. Adopted by the OECD and means that the environmental costs of travelling by car, for example, are paid by the motorists through road or carbon dioxide taxes.
Precursor
Predecessor, name for a substance that in another process forms another chemical substance.
Preparation
From the Preparations Directive1999/45/EEC, deliberate preparation or solvent consisting of two or several chemicals (chemical substances).
PRIO
Short for the Priority Guide, name of a web application run by the Swedish Chemicals Agency.
Producer
1) A professional manufacturer, importer or vendor of a product or packaging.
2) A person whose professional activities generate waste which requires special measures with respect to waste disposal or the environment. (Chapter 15, Section 4, the Environmental Code)
3) Producer of an article means any natural or legal person who makes or assembles an article within the Community. (The REACH Regulation)
Product and process orientated research and development
Means any scientific development related to product development or the further development of a substance, on its own, in mixtures or in articles in the course of which pilot plant or production trials are used to develop the production process and/or to test the fields of application of the substance. (The REACH Regulation)
Product choice principle, substitution principle
The product choice principle is defined in Chapter 2, Section 6 of the Environmental Code. The principle is also called the product choice principle. Persons who pursue an activity or take a measure, or intend to do so, shall avoid using or selling chemical products or biotechnical organisms that may involve risks to human health or the environment if products or organisms that are assumed to be less dangerous can be used instead. The same requirement shall
apply to articles that contain or are treated with a chemical product or a biotechnical organism. The Environmental Code applies to everyone. A consumer is, thus, responsible to find less dangerous alternatives, also non chemical.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride.
Q
QSAR
Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship. Models used to predict the properties of chemicals based on their molecular structures.
R
RAC
Risk Assessment Committee (EU).
REACH Regulation
Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. Introduced with the EU white paper on the EU strategy for a future chemicals policy.
Recipient of an article
Means an industrial or professional user, or a distributor, being supplied with an article but does not include consumers. (The REACH Regulation)
Recipient of a substance or a mixture
Means a downstream user or a distributor being supplied with a substance or a mixture. (The REACH Regulation)
Registrant
Means the manufacturer or the importer of a substance or the producer or importer of an article submitting a registration for a substance. (The REACH Regulation)
Replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs)
An internationally accepted approach to reduce the use of animals in research by, wherever possible, requiring studies to use alternative models and/or making refinements to the methods to minimise any distress when animals are used.
Reproductive disturbing/toxic to reproduction
Substance that harm the reproductive capacity.
Reference value
Recommended value, for example a short-term limit value or a level limit value.
Restriction
Means any condition for or prohibition of the manufacture, use or placing on the market.
Reversed burden of proof
Means that a scientifically based suspicion of the harmful effect of a substance shall be considered until the opposite has been proved.
Risk
The combination of hazard and the probability for it to occur; combination hazard - exposure.
Risk assessment
Process in four steps by which the relationship between the predicted exposure of the harmful effects of a substance is determined: hazard identification, assessment of dose-response relationship, assessment of exposure and risk characterisation. Targeted risk assessment is less comprehensive and a more specific and focused assessment than a complete risk assessment.
risk-benefit analysis
A method for weighing up the likely risks (in terms of the incidence and severity) associated with exposure to a substance versus the likely benefits.
Risk characterisation
Estimation of how extensive and serious such harmful effects are that may be assumed to arise in a population of people or a part of the environment as a result of an actual or predicted exposure to a substance.
risk management
The management of risks which have been identified by risk assessment. It includes the planning, implementation and evaluation of any resulting actions taken to protect consumers, animals and the environment.
risk ranking
A method for prioritising risks according to their likelihood and severity.
Robust study summary
Means a detailed summary of the objectives, methods, results and conclusions of a full study report providing sufficient information to make an independent assessment of the study minimising the need to consult the full study report. (The REACH Regulation)
RoHS
Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
Rotterdam Convention
Signed in1998, meaning that export of hazardous pesticides and chemicals is not permitted unless the receiving country accepts the import.
S
Safety Data Sheet, SDS
MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet. Information (16 points) to be given for products that are hazardous to health and the environment.
SAICM
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management. The global strategy from 2006 is an agreement aiming to follow and push for measures needed to reaching the target that until 2020 at the latest, chemicals are produced and used in such a way that harmful effects on human health and the environment are as limited as possible. (UNEP Governing Council Decision SS.VII/3)
Sampling plan
A systematic way of planning the number and type of samples required for an investigation.
Scientific opinion
Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment.
Scientific peer-review
Evaluation of scientific, academic, or professional work by others working in the same field.
Scientific research and development
Means any scientific experimentation, analysis or chemical research carried out under controlled conditions in a volume less than one tonne per year. (The REACH Regulation)
SCIP
The European Chemicals Agency's database for information on Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects (Products) established under the Waste Framework Directive.
Screening method
A first step method to establish the presence of a substance in a population for the purposes of estimating risk. Food intake is combined with likely chemical concentration to create an estimate of chemical exposure.
SEAC
Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis of the European Chemicals Agency. (EU)
SERP
Swedish Rapporteur Programme for the evaluation of active substances in plant protection products and biocidal products.
SIS
Swedish Institute for Standards.
SNIF
Summary Notification Information Format (placing GMO on the market).
Species sensitivity distribution (SDD)
A model of the variation in sensitivity of a species to a particular source of harm (e.g. drought, pest invasion or chemical exposure).
Specific protection goals for environmental risk assessment for pesticides
The specific goals of an environmental risk assessment in terms of what to protect, where to protect it, over what time period and with what degree of certainty.
SPIN
Substances in Preparations in the Nordic countries. Database on chemical substances in products on the Nordic market.
Statistical significance
A measure of the likelihood that a result occurred based on statistics.
Steps of risk assessment
A scientifically-based process consisting of four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation.
Stressor
A change in conditions, such as a drought, pest or chemical exposure, which often has negative effects on an organism or population.
Structural alert
Parts of organic molecules which are believed to be responsible for adverse effects (e.g. genotoxicity) and can be used to predict the toxicity of similar compounds.
Substance
Chemical element and its compounds in natural or prepared form, including additives necessary to product stability and any impurities from the production process, but excluding solvents which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition.
Substances which occur in nature
Means a naturally occurring substance as such, unprocessed or processed only by manual, mechanical or gravitational means, by dissolution in water, by flotation, by extraction with water, by steam distillation or by heating solely to remove water, or which is extracted from air by any means. (The REACH Regulation)
Substitution principle, product choice principle
The product choice principle is defined in Chapter 2, Section 6 of the Environmental Code. The principle is also called the product choice principle. Persons who pursue an activity or take a measure, or intend to do so, shall avoid using or selling chemical products or biotechnical organisms that may involve risks to human health or the environment if products or organisms that are assumed to be less dangerous can be used instead. The same requirement shall apply to articles that contain or are treated with a chemical product or a biotechnical organism. The Environmental Code applies to everyone. A consumer is, thus, responsible to find less dangerous alternatives, also non chemical.
Supplier of an article
Means any producer or importer of an article, distributor or other actor in the supply chain placing an article on the market. (The REACH Regulation)
Supplier of a substance or a mixture
Means any manufacturer, importer, downstream user or distributor placing on the market a substance, on its own or in a mixture, or a mixture. (The REACH Regulation)
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Our common future, 1987).
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Substances that meet the criteria in Article 57 in the REACH Regulation. These are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, dangerous for the environment (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic or very persistent and very bioaccumulative) or which have other serious properties, for example endocrine disrupting properties.
Synergistic effect
An interaction that multiplies outcomes. The outcome in question may be beneficial or adverse.
Systemic pesticide
A pesticide which is distributed throughout the target organism (e.g. insect, rodent or weed) without losing efficacy.
T
TBT
Tributyl tin.
Tolerable daily intake (TDI)
An estimate of the amount of a substance in food or drinking water which is not added deliberately (e.g contaminants) and which can be consumed over a lifetime without presenting an appreciable risk to health.
Third country
All countries that are not members of the EU.
Threshold
A dose or exposure below which adverse effects are not detected.
Tiered approach
A way of organising toxicology assessments to maximise efficiency and minimise the use of animals. It involves a hierarchy (tiers) of tests, starting with those that use existing information or simple biological methods before moving onto tests using cells and eventually live animals only as necessary.
Toy
Product designed as or designated to be a toy. (Toys Directive)
Toxicity
The potential of a substance to cause harm to a living organism.
Toxicodynamics
The process of interaction of chemical substances with the body and the subsequent reactions leading to adverse effects.
Toxicokinetics
The study of the processes by which potentially toxic substances are handled in the body. This involves an understanding of the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of such substances.
Toxicological profile
A summary of the toxic effects of a particular substance, including the levels of exposure at which these effects occur.
Toxicological reference value
A value defining the level of a particular substance to which people can safely be exposed over a specified period; for example, the acceptable daily intake (ADI).
Transmissible
Capable of being passed between individuals in the same species, as well as between different species (e.g. from animals to humans).
t½
The time required for 50% of a substance present in an individual, population or ecosystem to break down or be eliminated naturally. The half-life, or t½, is often used to describe the disappearance of potentially harmful substances such as chemical toxins.
U
Uncertainty
A lack of full knowledge about a situation in, for example, risk assessment. Uncertainty can be reduced by carrying out more research.
Uncertainty analysis
A method of identifying the sources of uncertainty in a risk assessment calculation and estimating their size and direction so that errors can be taken into account.
UNEP
United Nations Environment Programme.
Upper bound estimate
A way of estimating exposure to a particular compound from analytical data by assigning the lowest value which can be detected (or quantitated) to all samples with levels below this value. For a toxic chemical this gives the most pessimistic estimate of exposure (i.e. the real level of exposure will always be below the upper bound estimate).
Use
Means any processing, formulation, consumption, storage, keeping, treatment, filling into containers, transfer from one container to another, mixing, production of an article or any other utilisation. (The REACH Regulation)
In the Biocidal Products Regulation "use" refers to all operations carried out with a biocidal product, including storage, handling, mixing and application, except any such operation carried out with a view to exporting the biocidal product or the treated article outside the Union
Use and exposure category
Means an exposure scenario covering a wide range of processes or uses, where the processes or uses are communicated, as a minimum, in terms of the brief general description of use. (The REACH Regulation)
V
Variability
Natural variations observed between members of a population, or observed over time or in different geographical locations; for example, individual variations in susceptibility to a particular toxic chemical.
VOC
Volatile Organic Compound. Collective term of organic substances (substances based on carbon) that can be easily vaporized. From this definition follows that carbon dioxide is not counted as a VOC due to that the substance is inorganic. Perchlorethylene, however, is counted as a VOC even though the substance has no hydrogen atoms.
vPvB
Very persistent and very bioaccumulating.
Vulnerable group
Group of people needing specific consideration when assessing the nutritional needs or health effects of substances; for example, pregnant women, infants and people exposed to higher doses of substances through their environment.
W
WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE Directive 2002/96/EC). Directive on wastes consisting of or containing electrical or electronic equipment. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is competent authority for issues relating to the WEEE Directive.
WHO
World Health Organization.
White paper
Commission White Papers are documents containing proposals for EU action in a specific area. In some cases they follow a Green Paper published to launch a consultation process at European level. When a White Paper is favourably received by the Council of the EU, it can lead to an action programme for the Union in the area concerned.
WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature.
X
XRF
X-ray fluorescence, X-ray refractiometer.