Lexikon
water used by industry. Industrial water quality do not necessarily meet the drinking water or tapwater quality parameters. (Source: EUGRIS)
a philosophy that prescribes a code of practice for ensuring that environmental considerations for water resources are fully integrated into all stages of the development process in order to achieve a desirable balance between conservation and development. (Source: EUGRIS)
a micronucleus test is a test used in toxicological screening for potential genotoxic compounds. There are two major versions of this test, one in vivo and the other in vitro. The in vivo test normally uses mouse bone marrow or mouse peripheral blood. The assay is now recognized as one of the most successful and reliable assays for genotoxic carcinogens, i.e., carcinogens that act by causing genetic damage. The mouse peripheral blood assay has been adapted for measurement by flow cytometry. The first use of micronuclei in cultured cells was in human lymphocytes. The assay has been improved for use in lymphocytes and other cells in culture cells. A micronucleus is the erratic (third) nucleus that is formed during the anaphase of mitosis or meiosis.
Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes targeted to the centromere region, it can be determined if a whole chromosome, or only a fragment is lost.
neurotoxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, biological, and certain physical agents on the nervous system and/or behavior during development and in maturity. Many common substances are neurotoxic, including lead, mercury, some pesticides, and ethanol.
Neurotoxicity testing is used to identify potential neurotoxic substances. Neurotoxicity is a major toxicity endpoint that must be evaluated for many regulatory applications. Sometimes neurotoxicity testing is considered as a component of target organ toxicity; the central nervous system (CNS) being one of the major target organ systems. In utero exposure to chemicals and drugs can also exert an adverse effect on the development of the nervous system, which is called developmental neurotoxicity (DNT).
Like other target organ toxicities, neurotoxicity can result from different types of exposure to a substance; the major routes of exposure are oral, dermal, or inhalation. Neurotoxicity may be observed after a single (acute) dose or after repeated (chronic) dosing.
Source: http://alttox.org/ttrc/toxicity-tests/neurotoxicity/
nitroaromatics are carcinogenic and mutagenic aromatic substances, that are typical contaminants of contaminated military sites, e.g. 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (also known as RDX), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (also known as HMX), some pesticides (atrazine), and a number of anilines. (Source: EUGRIS)
the cellular organelle in eukaryotes that contains most of the genetic material.
the Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) is one of the implementation tools of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS). PEEN aims to link the different European and national protected areas and ecological networks with goal of ensuring the favourable conservation status of Europe’s key ecosystems, habitats, species and landscapes.
Ecological network is a system of the most valuable sites, important for protection of threatened species, habitat types, ecological systems or landscapes. Ecological network sites must be relatively close to each other and connected with corridors, which allow them to communicate and exchange species.
Ecological networks contain four main elements:
1. Core areas: These are areas where the primary function is biodiversity conservation. They are usually legally protected under national or European legislation (e.g. Natura 2000 sites). These areas should provide a substantial representation of key natural or semi-natural ecosystems and contain viable populations of important or threatened species. Land use within these areas is managed to give priority to biodiversity conservation.
2. Corridors: These are areas of suitable habitat that provide functional linkages link between core areas. For example, they may stimulate or allow species migration between areas. Corridors can be continuous strips of land or ‘stepping stones’ that are patches of suitable habitat. Using corridors to improve ecological coherence is one of the most important tools in combating the fragmentation that is threatening so many of Europe’s habitats. Generally speaking corridors can be associated with higher levels of land use, as long as their function is maintained.
3. Buffer zones: Protected areas should not be considered as islands that are safe from negative external effects. The resource use that occurs outside them can have serious impacts on species and habitats within, for example air/water pollution from industrial activities around a protected area can have serious effects on species inside it. Buffer zones allow a smoother transition between core areas and surrounding land use. The size and utilisation of buffer zones depends heavily on the particular needs of the specific ecosystem and its local population.
4. Sustainable use areas: These are remaining areas that can come under more intensive land use. But they should still take full account of the successful provision of ecosystem goods and services.
Connecting organisations
- ECNC-http://www.ecnc.org
- IUCN Programme Office for Central Europe-http://www.iucn-ce.org
- Database of Central and Eastern European Ecological Networks
- Plantlife International - http://www.plantlife.org.uk/international/plantlife-ipas.html
- Council of Europe
- IUCN WCPA - http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/
- IUCN CEM - http://www.iucn.org/themes/cem/
Source: http://www.countdown2010.net/archive/paneuropean.html
minimizing waste generation from site remediation by recovering and reprocessing usable products that might otherwise become waste (Source: EUGRIS).
soil is generally defined as the top layer of the earth’s crust. It is formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. Soil is the interface between the earth (geosphere), the air (atmosphere) and the water (hydrosphere). While soil is the physical upper layer of what is usually referred to as “land”, the concept of “land” is much wider and includes territorial and spatial dimensions. It is difficult to separate soil from its land context. (Source: EUGRIS)
waste reuse means that the discarded items or its elements are used again. Initiatives include hand-me-downs, garage sales, quilting, and composting (nutrients).
Waste recycling means that waste are separated into materials that may be incorporated into new products. This is different from reuse in that energy is used to change the physical properties of the material. Initiatives include composting, beverage container deposits and buying products with a high content of post-consumer material.
Type of waste recycling is capturing useful material from waste to energy programs. Includes methane collection, gasification and digestion, etc.
Incineration means high temperature destruction of material. Differs from gasification in that oxygen is used; differs from burning in that high temperatures consume material efficiently and emissions are controlled.