GLOSSARY

• Bioaccumulative:  The accumulation over time of a substance and especially a contaminant (such as a pesticide or heavy metal) in a living organism.

• BTEX:  An acronym for four toxic volatile organic compounds -- benzene, toluene, ethylbenene and xylene -- that are usually found together in petroleum and petroleum products

• Criteria Pollutants:  A list of the six most common harmful air pollutants established by EPA, which include:  carbon monoxide, lead, ground-;level ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

• HAPs:  Hazardous Air Pollutants

• Micrometer/Micron:  One millionth of a meter; often used in reference to  particulate matter.

• Particulate Matter (PM):  A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, and that are from sizes that can be seen with the naked eye to sizes that are microscopic.  

• PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons):  A class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline.  They also are created when these major sources are heated or burned (e.g., in asphalt and coal tar production).  Other materials such as wood, garbage and tobacco produce PAHs as well.  Large exposure of the chemicals have been linked to different cancers.

• PFAS:  Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of manmade chemicals that do not break down in the environment, nor in the human body.  They can be found in some foods, drinking water, household products, etc., and are known to cause a wide range of adverse human health effects.  They are often referred to as the "forever chemicals."

• PM10 & PM 2.5:  Inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 10 and 2.5 micrometers and smaller, and that can get deep into the lungs. Some can also get into the bloodstream.

• ​​Synergistic:  Relates to the interaction of or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects [e.g., low-level chemicals].

• TRI facilities:  A (toxic release inventory) facility that manufactures, processes, or otherwise uses in certain quantities any of the 770 toxic chemicals determined by EPA to pose a threat to human health and the environment.