Skip to main content.

Abbreviations/Glossary

Absorption
Incorporation into the body.  For a person or an animal, absorption is the process of a substance getting into the body through the eyes, skin, stomach, intestines, or lungs.
Acrodynia
Paediatric disease possibly linked to mercury poisoning.  Symptoms include generalised skin rash, pruritus, edema, painful extremities that appear pink, profuse sweating, clammy skin, scarlet-coloured cheeks and nose, photophobia, polyneuritis, digestive problems, irritable episodes that alternate with apathetic attitudes, and general failure to thrive.  Also called erythredema polyneuropathy, Feer's disease, Pink disease, or Swift's disease.
Acute exposure
Contact with a substance that occurs once or for only a short time (up to 14 days).
Adsorption
Accumulation of a substance on the surface.
Adverse effect
A change in body function or cell structure that might lead to disease or health problems.
Aerobic
Occurring in the presence of oxygen.
Anaerobic
Occurring without oxygen.
ANZECC
Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council.
AMD
Acid mine drainage.
ARC
Auckland Regional Council.
Atmosphere
The mass of air and gases surrounding the earth.
ATSDR
Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (United States).
Bioaccumulation
When a chemical compound is absorbed by a species at a greater rate than the species can remove it.
Biogeochemical
The cycling of elements and compounds between the living (i.e. biosphere) and non-living parts of the earth (i.e. lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere).
Biological half-life (of a substance)
The time it takes for a substance to lose half of its pharmacologic and/or physiologic activity.  In the case of most metals (including mercury) it can be thought as being the rate at which the metal ion is lost from the body (usually though excretion via urine or faeces but some may be lost via exhalation of air).  It is generally taken that 10 times the half-life is needed to elapse before the compound is eliminated.
Biomagnification
The tendency of certain chemical compounds (e.g. methylmercury) to become concentrated as they move into and up the food chain, resulting in the larger predatory species having the greatest concentration.
Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)
A specialised structure composed of physically merged endothelial cells and fine capillaries which restricts the passage of various chemical substances and microscopic objects (e.g. bacteria) between the bloodstream and the neural tissue itself, while still allowing the passage of substances essential to metabolic function (e.g. oxygen).  For most substances, ease of passage across the BBB is determined by their lipid-solubility.  Methylmercury is able to cross the BBB so effectively because in the body it forms strong complexes with the amino acid cysteine, which is nearly structurally identical to an essential amino acid methionine.
Biosphere
The regions of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where living organisms exist.
Biota
Living species, including all plant and animal life.
CCC
Chronic continuous concentration.
CFL
Compact Fluorescent Lamp.
Chronic exposure
Exposure to a substance over a long period of time (more than a year).  Chronic exposure can either be continuous or as a series of small repeated doses.
CMC
Chronic maximum concentration
Complexes
Any compound in which the bonding is by interaction of electrons of the donor with empty orbitals of the acceptor.
Dermal absorption
The transport of chemicals from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the systemic circulation.  Dermal absorption is most effective for those heavy metals which are capable of forming strong organic complexes (thus, for example, lead and mercury are more efficiently absorbed through the skin than cadmium and zinc).  Dermal absorption can occur from occupational, environmental, or consumer skin exposure to chemicals, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products.
Dry Deposition
The process of when mercury compounds are deposited to land or water as result of air movement and circulation.
Dyspena
Slurred speech.
EC
Electricity Commission.
ECan
Environment Canterbury.
EECA
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.
Ecological Receptors
Any living organisms other than humans, and the habitat which supports such organisms, or natural resources which could be adversely affected by environmental contaminations.
EELS
Environmental exposure limits.
EPHC
Environmental Protection Heritage Council (Australia).
Epithermal Mineralisation
Pertaining to mineral veins and ore deposits formed from warm waters at shallow depth, at temperatures ranging from 50-200°C, and generally at some distance from the magmatic source.
Erethism
Abnormal irritability or sensitivity of an organ or body part to stimulation.
ERMA
Environmental Risk and Management Authority.
ERMANZ
Environmental Risk and Management Authority New Zealand.
EU
European Union.
Evasion
Release of mercury into the atmosphere from water bodies.
EW
Environment Waikato.
Exposure
Contact with a substance by swallowing, breathing, or touching the skin or eyes. Exposure may be short-term [acute exposure], of intermediate duration, or long-term [chronic exposure].
Exposure Pathway
The path from sources of pollutants via, soil, water, or food to man and other species or settings.
Exposure Standard
An airborne concentration of a particular substance in a worker's breathing zone, exposure to which should not cause adverse health effects nor cause undue discomfort to nearly all workers.  The exposure standard can be of three forms; time-weighted average (TWA), peak, or short term exposure limit (STEL).
Exposure Standard
peak:  A maximum or peak airborne concentration of a particular substance determined over the shortest analytically practicable period of time which does not exceed 15 minutes.
Exposure Standard
short term exposure limit (STEL):  A 15 minute TWA exposure which should not be exceeded at any time during a working day even if the eight-hour TWA average is within the TWA exposure standard.  Exposures at the STEL should not be longer than 15 minutes and should not be repeated more than four times per day.  There should be at least 60 minutes between successive exposures at the STEL.
Exposure standard
time-weighted average (TWA):  The average airborne concentration of a particular substance when calculated over a normal eight-hour working day, for a five-day working week.
FAO
Food and Agricultural Organisation.
GLS
General Lighting Service (incandescent lamps).
HID
High Intensity Discharge (lamps).
HSNO Act
Hazardous Substance and New Organisms Act.
Human Receptor
People who could come into contact with hazardous substances.
Hydrosphere
The water layer of the earth surface, including water vapour.
Ingestion
The act of swallowing something through eating, drinking, or mouthing objects.  A hazardous substance can enter the body this way.  Ingestion is usually the main route of heavy metal exposure for members of the general (non-occupationally-exposed) population.   
Inhalation
The act of breathing.  A hazardous substance can enter the body this way.  In general, the lungs are more efficient at absorbing molecules than the gut, so the fraction of a given heavy metal which will be absorbed by the lungs may typically be 10 times the proportion absorbed by the gut.  However, ambient concentrations of heavy metals in the air are usually far lower than those in food.
Inorganic Compounds
Compounds that do not comprise of a combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.  Generally compounds other than those found in plants and animals.
IPPC
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
ISQG
Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines.
JECFA
Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives.
LCNZ
Lighting Council New Zealand.
Leachate
Water escaping from a landfill site.
LFL
Linear Fluorescent Lamp.
Lipophilic
Fat or oil soluble compound.
Lithosphere
Solid portion of the Earth’s surface.
MAV
Maximum Acceptable Value.  A New Zealand Drinking Water Standard which is the concentration of a chemical below which the chemical compound does not result in any significant risk to a consumer over a lifetime of consumption.
MED
Ministry of Economic Development.
MEPS
Minimum Energy Performance Standards.
Methylation
The substitution of a methyl group (CH3) for a hydrogen atom in an organic compound.
Methylmercury
An organic form of mercury with the chemical formula CH3Hg.  Methylmercury is lipophilic and can bio-magnify in living species.
Mercury Burden
T he amount of mercury present in the body of a human or animal.
Mercury Pathways
The processes and transformations that mercury and associated compounds make between the different environmental compartments i.e. land, water and atmosphere.
Mercury Sinks
Areas of the environment where there is a high concentration of mercury, usually in the sediments at the bottom of the ocean, where insoluble mercury compounds have been deposited.
Mercuric Compounds
Mercury compounds in the monovalent (Hg1+) state, denoting mercury (I) compounds. 
Mercurial Erethism
The classic neurological symptoms associated with mercury poisoning, they include timidity, memory loss, insomnia, excitability, emotional instability, and in severe cases, delirium. Fits of anger and the inability to make decisions are common problems.
Mercurous
Mercury compounds in the divalent (Hg2+) state, denoting mercury (II) compounds. 
MfE
Ministry for the Environment.
Micromercurialism
A form of mercury poisoning resulting from long-term exposure to low doses of mercury.  The syndrome of micromercurialism involves complex symptoms of stress, fatigue, memory loss, fine tremors, muscular and reflex insufficiency and low blood pressure, caused by accumulation of mercury in the system.
MoH
Ministry of Health.
MRL
Minimum Risk Level.
NEMA
National Electrical Manufactures Association.
NIOSH
National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (USA).
NOEC
No observable effect concentration.
NOSHC
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Australia).
NPI
National Pollution Inventory.
NZFSA
New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
NZTDS
New Zealand Total Diet Survey.
Omega-3 fatty acids
A family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the n−3 position; that is, the third bond from the methyl end of the fatty acid.
Organic Compounds
Compounds that comprise of a combination of carbon/hydrogen/oxygen atoms, generally relate to living species, both plant and animal.
OSH
Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Labour (NZ).
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA).
Oxidation
The loss of electrons (an increase in the oxidation state of mercury).
Peripheral neuropathy
A functional disturbance or pathological change in the peripheral nervous system.  Also referred to as being polyneuropathy.
Proteinuria
The presence in the urine of abnormally large quantities of protein, usually albumin.  Healthy adults excrete less than 250 mg of protein per day.  Persistent proteinuria is usually a sign of renal disease or renal complications of another disease, such as hypertension or heart failure.
PTWI
Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake.  PTWI are set for substances, such as metals, that are contaminants in food and are known to accumulate in animals and humans.  The PTWI is defined as being the estimate of the intake of a substance over a lifetime that is considered to be without appreciable adverse health effects.
Reasonable Maximum Exposure (RME)
Represent a high end (but not worse case) estimate of an individual exposure.  It provides a conservative estimate that falls within a realistic range.  The RME is defined as reasonable as it is a product of several factors that are a mix of average and upper-bound estimates.  RME estimates typically fall between 90th and 99.9th percentile of the exposure distribution (i.e. 90 to 99.9% of the population will have an exposure equal or less than the RME estimate).
Reduction
The gain of electrons (a reduction in the oxidation state of mercury).
Renal Failure
Partial or complete loss of kidney function resulting in the inability of the kidneys to excrete waste products.
Residence Time
The time that a compound or element will remain in a certain state or environmental compartment (e.g. atmosphere, water, land).
RfC
Reference concentrations.  The concentration of a chemical in air that is very unlikely to have adverse effects if inhaled continuously over a lifetime which can be used to derive a guideline value for the protection of human health.
RMA
Resource Management Act (NZ)
RoHS
Restriction on use of Hazardous Substances (EU)
Sorbed
Attachment via either absorption or adsorption processes
Stomatitis
Inflammation of the mucous lining of any of the structures in the mouth, which may involve the cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, and roof or floor of the mouth.
TCLP
Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure.
TELS
Tolerable Exposure Limits.
Tephra
Solid matter that is ejected into the air by an erupting volcano.  The material may range in size from so-called ‘bombs’, which are greater than 32 mm in diameter, to fine dust and ash.  The coarser, heavier particles fall out close to the volcano vent, while, depending on wind conditions, the finer dust may be carried hundreds of kilometres.
UNEP
United Nations Environmental Programme.
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Volatilisation
The transfer of a chemical from the aqueous or liquid phase to the gas phase.  Also known as evaporation.
WEEE
Waste electronic and electrical equipment
Wet Deposition
The process of when mercury is dissolved into water droplets (either by rain or other types of precipitation) and returned to land or water.
WFD
Water Framework Directive.
WHO
World Health Organization.