Acute Exposure	Short term exposure
CAA/CAAA	Clean Air Act/Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
Carcinogen	material which either causes cancer in humans or because it causes cancer in animals is considered to be capable of causing cancer in humans.
CERCLA	The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Created the Superfund to finance the cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste dumpsites.
CHEMTREC	Center in Washington, DC to provide emergency information on materials involved in transportation accidents. 24-hour number is 800-424-9300.
Chronic Exposure	Long term exposure
CNS	Central Nervous System
CNS Depression	Drowsiness, dizziness and/or headache caused by a chemical exposure. Extreme symptoms may include unconsciousness, coma or death.
CO	Carbon Monoxide
CO2	Carbon Dioxide
COC	Cleveland Open Cup Test. One test method for determining flash points.
Combustible Liquid	Under DOT, a liquid with a flash point above 141°F. but below 200°F.
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations. The printed forum for all federal regulations. Each agency or groups of agencies are found under a different code. For example, EPA is found in Title 40; OSHA under Title 29; and DOT under Title 49.
CWA	Clean Water Act
Dermatitis	Skin rash; inflammation of skin
DOT	The Department of Transportation
DOT ID #s	Four-digit numbers used to identify particular materials for purposes of transportation. UN is for both domestic and international transportation; NA is for domestic transportation only.
EINECS	The European Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances. A list of chemical substances that were marketed in the European Community between 1/1/71 and 9/18/81. Rules for inclusion of substances were different that US TSCA regulations.
EPA	The Environmental Protection Agency
FIFRA	The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act . Regulation of pesticides including biocides.
Flammable Liquid	Under RCRA and DOT, a liquid with a flash point at or below 141°F.
HAP	Hazardous Air Pollutant under Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
HMIS	Hazardous Material Identification System
IARC	International Agency for Research on Cancer. One of the sources of data on a material’s carcinogenicity.
Mutagen	Material that induces genetic changes in the DNA.
LC50	The amount necessary to kill half the test animal population in an inhalation study.
LD50	The amount necessary to kill half the test animal population in an oral ingestion study.
NFPA	National Fire Protection Association
NIOSH	The National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health
NOx	Nitrous Oxides
NTP	National Toxicology Program. One of the sources for information on a material’s carcinogenicity.
OSHA	The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PAH	Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons. Also called PNAs (polynuclear aromatics) or PCAs (polycyclic aromatics). Cyclic hydrocarbons of which many of these materials are carcinogenic or are converted to carcinogens when metabolized by animals or humans. In Europe, the level of PAHs in mineral oil determines whether these oils are labeled as carcinogenic.
PEL	Permissible Exposure Limit. An eight hour time weighted average level at which the majority of employees may be exposed to without undue health effects. Established by OSHA and listed in 29 CFR 1910.1000.
PMCC	Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester. One test method for determining flash points.
POTW	Publicly Owned Treatment Works (Sewer Authority)
ppb	Parts per billion
ppm	Parts per million
RCRA	The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Covers hazardous waste disposal.
SARA	Superfund Amendments of Reauthorization Act of 1986. Reauthorized the Superfund regulations and created the Community Right-to-Know regulations.
SOx	Sulfur Oxides
STEL	Short-term exposure limit - usually 15 minutes.
TCC	Tag Closed Cup Tester. One test method for determining flash points.
Teratogen	Material capable of causing physical defects in a developing embryo.
TLV	Threshold Limit Value. An eight hour time weighted average level at which the majority of employees may be exposed to without undue health effects. Established by the ACGIH.
TSCA	The Toxic Substances Control Act
TSCA Inventory	Inventory of chemical substances in commerce in the United States between 1973 and 1975 and those materials for which PMNs have been issued.
VOCs	Volatile Organic Compounds

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.