Glossary – Environmentalism

1. Acute (adj): Occurring over a short period of time; used to describe brief
exposures and effects which appear promptly after exposure.

2. Adsorbent (n): The material (activated carbon) that is responsible for removing
the undesirable substance in the adsorption process.

3. Aerobic (adj): Requires air or oxygen to function.

4. Bedrock (n): The consolidated rock that underlies the soil; it can be permeable
or non-permeable.

5. Chlorination (n): The application of chlorine to water, generally for the purpose
of disinfection, but frequently for accomplishing other biological or chemical
results (aiding coagulation and controlling tastes and odors).

6. Coliform (n): Microorganisms found in the intestinal tract of humans and

animals. Their presence in water indicates fecal pollution and potentially adverse
contamination by pathogens.

7. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) (n phr): An alternative fuel for motor

vehicles; considered one of the cleanest because of low hydrocarbon emissions and
its vapors are relatively non-ozone producing.

8. Filtration (n): A treatment process, under the control of qualified operators, for
removing solid (particulate) matter from water by means of porous media such as
sand or a man-made filter. Filtration also is often used to remove particles that
contain pathogens.

9. Opacity (n): The amount of light obscured by particulate pollution in the air;
clear window glass has zero opacity, a brick wall is 100 percent opaque. Opacity is
an indicator of changes in performance of particulate control systems.
10. Scrubber (n): An air pollution device that uses a spray of water or reactant or a
dry process to trap pollutants in emissions.

11. Soot (n): Carbon dust formed by incomplete combustion.

12. Turbidity (n): A cloudy condition in water due to suspended silt or organic
matter. The degree of turbidity is measured with a turbidometer.

13. Underground Injection Control (UIC) (n phr): The program under the Safe
Drinking Water Act that regulates the use of wells to pump fluids into the ground.

14. Volatile (n): Any substance that evaporates readily.

15. Wetlands (n): An area that is saturated by surface or groundwater with

vegetation adapted for life under those soil conditions, as swamps, bogs, fens,
marshes, and estuaries.