Glossary
Acute exposure
Acute exposure
A one-time exposure of relatively short duration.
A one-time exposure of relatively short duration.
Biomarker
Biomarker
An identifiable change at the chemical, biochemical, or cellular level due to an exposure to an environmental toxicant.
An identifiable change at the chemical, biochemical, or cellular level due to an exposure to an environmental toxicant.
Chronic exposure
Chronic exposure
An exposure to a chemical or hazardous substance that occurs over a period of time.
An exposure to a chemical or hazardous substance that occurs over a period of time.
Developmental stages
Developmental stages
Temporal intervals in distinct anatomical, physiological, behavioral, or functional characteristics that can contribute to potential differences in vulnerability to environmental exposures.
Temporal intervals in distinct anatomical, physiological, behavioral, or functional characteristics that can contribute to potential differences in vulnerability to environmental exposures.
Dose
Dose
The amount of a contaminant that is absorbed or deposited in the body of an exposed person for an increment of time. Total dose is the sum of doses received by a person from a contaminant in a given interval and resulting from interaction with all environmental media that contain the contaminant.
The amount of a contaminant that is absorbed or deposited in the body of an exposed person for an increment of time. Total dose is the sum of doses received by a person from a contaminant in a given interval and resulting from interaction with all environmental media that contain the contaminant.
Macroactivity
Macroactivity
Highly general description of what a child does during a specific period of time or developmental stages – i.e., playing, school attendance, crawling, toddling, etc.
Highly general description of what a child does during a specific period of time or developmental stages – i.e., playing, school attendance, crawling, toddling, etc.
Microactivity
Microactivity
A very detailed description of an activity that could lead to an exposure. Some examples of microactivities leading to childhood exposures are mouthing of objects and crawling on the floor with subsequent hand contact with dirt.
A very detailed description of an activity that could lead to an exposure. Some examples of microactivities leading to childhood exposures are mouthing of objects and crawling on the floor with subsequent hand contact with dirt.
Microenvironment
Microenvironment
Location a child occupies for a specified period of time – e.g., outdoors on a lawn versus outdoors on a school playground.
Location a child occupies for a specified period of time – e.g., outdoors on a lawn versus outdoors on a school playground.
Paraoccupational exposure
Paraoccupational exposure
The transmission of potentially toxic quantities of industrial agents from occupational settings to homes and residences is referred to as take-home contamination. Take-home contamination has been more vividly called “fouling one’s own nest.”
The transmission of potentially toxic quantities of industrial agents from occupational settings to homes and residences is referred to as take-home contamination. Take-home contamination has been more vividly called “fouling one’s own nest.”
Pica
Pica
The intentional ingestion of soil and other non-nutritive substances.
The intentional ingestion of soil and other non-nutritive substances.
Poisoning
Poisoning
A patient has a defined pattern of symptoms corresponding to toxic effects from a poisonous substance at a mid- to high level of exposure.
A patient has a defined pattern of symptoms corresponding to toxic effects from a poisonous substance at a mid- to high level of exposure.
Toxicant
Toxicant
A poisonous substance not derived from the metabolism of a living organism.
A poisonous substance not derived from the metabolism of a living organism.
Toxicodynamics
Toxicodynamics
The study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the action of a poison.
The study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the action of a poison.
Toxin
Toxin
A poisonous substance produced by the metabolism of an organism, such as a spider, a snake, a scorpion, a plant, a fungus, or bacteria.
A poisonous substance produced by the metabolism of an organism, such as a spider, a snake, a scorpion, a plant, a fungus, or bacteria.
Toxicity
Toxicity
Any adverse effect from a poisonous substance, whether the effect is subclinical or it takes the form of frank clinical symptoms of a poisoning.
Any adverse effect from a poisonous substance, whether the effect is subclinical or it takes the form of frank clinical symptoms of a poisoning.
Toxidrome
Toxidrome
A defined constellation of symptoms characteristic of a certain class of toxic exposure.
A defined constellation of symptoms characteristic of a certain class of toxic exposure.