Lexikon
the term "transitional waters" first came to prominence in 2000 with the publication of the Water Framework Directive of the European Communities [European Communities, 2000. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities 43 (L327), 75 pp.], where "transitional waters" are defined as "bodies of surface water in the vicinity of river mouths which are partially saline in character as a result of their proximity to coastal waters but which are substantially influenced by freshwater flows".
The term transitional waters should be refined by differentiation between and definition of tidal estuaries and non-tidal brackish water lagoons, as well as the incorporation of fjords, fjards, river mouths, deltas, rias and lagoons as well as the more classical estuaries.
Physical properties:
Boiling Point: 87 oC at 760 mmHg
Freezing/Melting Point: -86 oC
Specific Gravity/Density:1.5
Solubility (g/100 ml at 20 oC): 0.1
Vapor Pressure: 77.3 mbar at 20 oC
Vapor Density: 4.5 (air=1)
Autoignition Temperature: 410 oC
Explosion Limits: 8-10.5 Vol %
Log P: 2.42
Earlier it was used as anesthetic, but due to its toxicity and potential carcinogenecity its use in the food (e.g. for coffee decaffeination) and pharmaceutical industries has been banned in much of the world. The greatest use of TCE has been as a degreaser for metal parts, which resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater. As the density of TCE is higher than that of the water, and it is poorly soluble in water, TCE is adsorbed on the soil grains and it is concentrated in the aquifers as a plum called also DNAPL (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids). TCE is degraded by the soil micobes, therefore the DNAPL contains beside TCE also DCE (dichloroethylene) and VC (vinyl chloride).
As other Voltile Organic Compounds (VOC), TCE causes eye and skin irritation, it is well soluble in the lipids of the organism explaining its neurotoxic effect, transport through the blood-brain barrier and excretion in maternal milk. Breathing large amounts of trichloroethylene may cause impaired heart function, unconsciousness, and death. Breathing it for long periods may cause nerve, kidney, and liver damage. Drinking or breathing high levels of trichloroethylene may cause nervous system effects, liver and lung damage, abnormal heartbeat, coma, and possibly death. Skin contact with trichloroethylene for short periods may cause skin rashes. Some studies of people exposed over long periods to high levels of trichloroethylene in drinking water or in workplace air have found evidence of increased cancer. TCE may be concentrated in inner atmosphere of dwellings above plums. The EPA has set a maximum contaminant level for trichloroethylene in drinking water at 0.005 mg/L or 5 parts of TCE per billion parts water. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an exposure limit of 100 parts of trichloroethylene per million parts of air (100 ppm) for an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek. (Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Deseas Registry, ATSDR, www.atsdr.cdc.gov).
main hazard of this compound, similar to other metal phosphides primarily originates from the effects caused by liberation of hydrogen phosphide (PH3) gas.For this reason, studies performed with other metal phosphides or PH3 itself served as basis for assessing Mg3P2 toxicity.
tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive. Tumors perform no useful body function. Tumors can be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).
Carcinogenity of chemical substances is tested by the occurence and type of tumors on the test-animals.
represents that washed from the skin surface after exposure and any present on the nonocclusive cover, including any dose shown to volatilise from the skin during exposure.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The objective of the Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.
Achieving this objective will involve long-term integrated strategies that focus simultaneously, in affected areas, on improved productivity of land, and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions, in particular at the community level.
Sorce: http://www.unccd.int/convention/text/convention.php
mathematical adjustments for reasons of safety when knowledge is incomplete.
For example, factors used in the calculation of doses that are not harmful (adverse) to people. These factors are applied to the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) or the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) to derive a minimal risk level (MRL). Uncertainty factors are used to account for variations in people's sensitivity, for differences between animals and humans, and for differences between a LOAEL and a NOAEL. Scientists use uncertainty factors when they have some, but not all, the information from animal or human studies to decide whether an exposure will cause harm to people.
For the estimation of ecosystem PNEC, the uncertainty factors are determined according to the precisity of the applied tests. The mathematical method which uses these factors between measured and extrapolated data is called factorial extrapolation.
It is also called safety factor.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
See also: http://www.unep.org/
on the internet you can find several unit converters, which are able to convert physical unites of measure from ones system to an other one, e.g. to the metric system.
On the web-address of http://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/density.htm you can find a converter able to convert area, density, energy, force, length, mass, power, pressure, speed, temperature and volume, bits and bytes.
Universal Serial Bus
use means any processing, formulation, consumption, storage, keeping, treatment, filling into containers, transfer from one container to another, mixing, production of an article or any other utilisation.
Conditions of use refer to the Operational Conditions and Risk Management Measures (RMM) as described in an Expousre Scenarios.
(Source: REACH Glossary)
ultraviolet light can be detected by suitable photodiodes and photocathodes which can be tailored to be sensitive in different parts of the UV spectrum. Sensitive ultraviolet photomultipliers are also available. These detectors make possible the detection of any levels and changes in levels of UV-light. As such, they can be applied as detectors of many analytical methods as part of spectrometers or coupled with liquid-chromatographs.
substances of Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction products or Biological materials. A type of chemical substances within REACH regulation.