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Toxicants

See also: Air Pollutants |   Asbestos |   Carcinogens | Chemicals | Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) | Endocrine Disruptors | Environmental Tobacco Smoke | Hazardous Waste | Heavy Metals |  Medical Waste | Mercury |  Neurotoxicants |   Pesticides | Radiation | 


Glossary Terms

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 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)

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)

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)

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)



 Information Sources and Organizations
Looking for information on Toxicants? Click on the following summary databases to learn more!Looking for articles, reports, or scientific literature on Toxicants? Click on the following bibliographic databases to learn more!Looking for research on Toxicants? Click on the following research databases to learn more!Looking for Directories that provide information on Toxicants? Click on the following toxicants to learn more!Looking for Health Surveys that address Toxicants? Click on the following toxicants to learn more!Looking for Organizations that are involved in the issue of Toxicants? Click on the following organizations to learn more!

Resource Guide Table of Contents