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Definition
| An increase in the concentration of a chemical in specific organs or tissues at a level higher than would normally be expected. Compare biomagnification. |
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| Increase in concentration of DDT, PCBs, and other slowly degradable, fat-soluble chemicals in organisms at successively higher trophic levels of a food chain or web. Compare bioaccumulation. |
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| Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a chlorinated hydrocarbon that has been widely used as an insecticide but is now banned in some countries. |
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| Family of 75 different chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds formed as unwanted by-products in chemical reactions involving chlorine and hydrocarbons, usually at high temperatures. |
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| Any solid, liquid, or containerized gas that can catch fire easily, is corrosive to skin tissue or metals, is unstable and can explode or release toxic fumes, or has harmful concentrations of one or more toxic materials that can leach out. See also toxic waste. |
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| Solid waste produced indirectly by mines, factories, refineries, food growers, and businesses that supply people with goods and services. Compare municipal solid waste. |
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Term
| integrated waste management |
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Definition
| Variety of strategies for both waste reduction and waste management to deal with solid wastes. |
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| Solid materials discarded by homes and businesses in or near urban areas. See solid waste. |
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| Fields or holes in the ground where garbage is placed and sometimes covered with soil. They are rare in developed countries, but widely used in many developing countries. Compare sanitary landfill. |
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Term
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Definition
| polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
Group of 209 different toxic, oily, synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds that can be biologically amplified in food chains and webs. |
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Definition
| An ionized gas consisting of electrically conductive ions and electrons. It is known as a fourth state of matter. |
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Definition
| Collecting and reprocessing a resource so that it can be made into new products. An example is collecting aluminum cans, melting them down, and using the aluminum to make new cans or other aluminum products. Compare reuse. |
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Definition
| Using a product over and over again in the same form. An example is collecting, washing, and refilling glass beverage bottles. Compare recycling. |
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Definition
| Waste disposal site on land in which waste is spread in thin layers, compacted, and covered with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam each day. |
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Definition
| Any unwanted or discarded material that is not a liquid or a gas. See municipal solid waste. |
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| Form of hazardous waste that causes death or serious injury (such as burns, respiratory diseases, cancers, or genetic mutations). See hazardous waste. |
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