Absorbed dose

The amount of pesticide active ingredient penetrating across the absorption barriers (exchange boundaries) of a test organism or human (same as "internal dose").

Acetylcholinesterase

A critical cholinesterase regulating the synaptic transmission of impulses in the central and peripheral nervous systems of humans and animals. Symptoms of inhibition of nervous system acetylcholinesterase span a range from mild to severe depending upon the degree of inhibition. Mild symptoms include narrowing of the pupil and runny nose. More severe symptoms may include additionally any or all of the following: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, breathing difficulty, death.

Active ingredient

In any pesticide product, the component which kills, or otherwise controls, targeted pests. Pesticides are regulated primarily on the basis of their active ingredient.

Acute toxicity

The capacity of a substance to cause a poisonous effect (such as skin or eye irritation or damage to an organ) or death from a single or short-term exposure.

Adverse health effect

An indication of unequivocal health impairment, including a frank effect and/or laboratory measurement. Adverse health effects may be mild, moderate, or severe. Thus, inhibition of blood cholinesterases, by itself, does not constitute an adverse health effect. Abnormal contraction of the pupil following exposure to an anticholinesterase is a mild adverse health effect.

Anticholinesterase

A chemical which inhibits cholinesterase.

Application, supervised

A pesticide application conducted under the supervision of a DoD-certified applicator.

Application, unsupervised

A pesticide application not conducted under the supervision of a DoD-certified applicator.

Arthropod

Any of numerous invertebrate animals of the phylum Arthropoda, including the insects, crustaceans, arachnids, and myriapods, that are characterized by an exoskeleton and a segmented body with jointed appendages.

Butyrylcholinesterase

A type of cholinesterase present in blood plasma. Frequently used as an indicator of potential acetylcholinesterase inhibition by chemicals.

Carbamates

A group of synthetic pesticide active ingredients that act on the nervous system by reversibly inhibiting cholinesterase. Bendiocarb, methomyl, and propoxur are carbamates.

Carcinogenic

A cancer-causing substance or agent.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons

A group of synthetic organic compounds with one or more chlorine atoms. Chlordane, dieldrin, and DDT are examples.

Cholinesterase

Either of two enzymes found in the nervous system and blood of humans and animals. An enzyme that helps regulate nerve impulses. The two forms are acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase.

Chronic toxicity

The capacity of a substance to cause harmful health effects after long-term exposure.

Circa

About; approximately. Used, for example, preceding a date.

Consequential

Being of sufficient magnitude as to potentially affect the outcome of the health risk assessment. A "consequential exposure" is known or likely to be greater than or equal to one-tenth of any relevant risk-based threshold such as a reference dose.

Conservative

Marked by moderation or caution. In risk assessment, a conservative assumption is one that is used due to the uncertainty present, and is more likely to overestimate than it is to underestimate exposure and/or risk. A conservative analysis, containing one or more conservative assumptions, is conducted in order to estimate an upper limit on exposure and/or risk.

Controlled pesticide

A pesticide that is handled, mixed, and applied by specially trained and certified pesticide personnel.

DEET

Common name for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide in the United States.

Direct supervision

Supervision that includes being at the specific location where work is conducted and maintaining a line-of-sight view of the work performed.

Disease vector

An invertebrate animal (e.g., tick, mosquito) capable of transmitting an infectious agent among vertebrates including humans.

DoD-certified applicator

Military or civilian pesticide personnel certified in accordance with the "DOD Plan for the Certification of Pesticide Applicators."

Emulsifiable concentrate

A pesticide that can be mixed with water or other liquid to form a suspension of droplets that can be applied with a sprayer.

Exposure

The contact of a chemical with the outer boundary of a human or test animal. The outer boundary means the skin, the lining of the alimentary canal, and the lining of the airways.

Exposure pathway

Describes the path a pesticide travels from point of release to exposure point.

Exposure point

The physical location where exposure took place.

Exposure scenario

A description of how the exposure took place, including the amounts of pesticide used, means of application, and the characteristics of potentially-exposed personnel.

Filth fly

Generic term that covers various fly species (including the housefly) attracted to waste.

Frank effect

An objective, clinically evident effect.

Guidelines

Used informally to refer to the exposure levels recommended by the EPA.

Inconsequential

Being of insufficient magnitude to affect the outcome of the health risk assessment. An "inconsequential exposure" is known or likely to be less than one-tenth of any relevant risk-based threshold such as a reference dose.

Inert ingredient

A pesticide component (e.g., a solvent or carrier) that is not active against targeted pests.

Inorganic pesticide

A pesticide made from mineral compounds (e.g., arsenic, copper, mercury, sulfur, zinc).

Insecticide

A substance to control insects, sometimes used in a broader sense to mean a substance that controls arthropods other than insects.

A comprehensive approach to pest control or prevention that considers various chemical, physical, and biological suppression techniques; the habitat of the pest; and the interrelationship between pest populations and the ecosystem.

Leishmaniasis

One of two clinically distinct ulcerative skin diseases, transmitted to human beings and animals by sand flies.

M8A1 alarm

The M8A1 is a remote, continuous, air-sampling alarm that automatically detects nerve agent vapors and warns personnel with both audible and visual signals.

Malaria

A disease caused by parasites, transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes, and characterized by periodic attacks of chills and fever.

Mutagenic

Having the power to cause mutations.

Mutation

A distinctive character appearing for the first time in a pure line of plants or animals that is transmitted through succeeding generations; due to some change in the chromosomes.

Onsite supervision

Work supervision that requires being physically at the installation (but not necessarily at the specific work site) and being able to get to the work site within 30 minutes.

Operation Granby

The British designation for Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Organochlorine

A group of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides that act on the nervous system by interfering with nerve conduction. Lindane is an organochlorine.

Organophosphates

A group of phosphorous-containing synthetic pesticide active ingredients that act on the nervous system by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. Irreversible inhibition is characteristic of many organophosphates (OPs). Azamethiphos, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, and malathion are OPs.

Overexposure

A chemical exposure sufficient to cause observable symptoms which have a reasonable potential to be detrimental to health.

Pest

An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed (or other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life), virus, bacteria, or microorganism that is annoying or injurious to health or the environment.

Pesticide

A substance or mixture of substances that prevents, destroys, repels, or reduces any pest. Also any substance or mixture of substances used as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.

Pesticide applicator

Any individual who applies pesticides or supervises the use of any pesticide by others.

Potential dose

The amount of pesticide active ingredient contained in material ingested, air breathed, or bulk material applied to skin.

Pyrethroids

A group of both natural (from the chrysanthemum family) and synthetic pesticides, of varying chemical structure, which act on the nervous system by interfering with nerve conduction. Permethrin and d-phenothrin are synthetic pyrethroids.

Receptor

A person potentially exposed to a pesticide.

Residual pesticide

A pesticide capable of killing or repelling a target pest for an extended period of time after the pesticide is applied.

Residue

The pesticide remaining after natural or technological processes take place.

Restricted-use

An EPA classification for pesticides that may potentially cause adverse effects to the environment or to the applicator—even when label directions are followed. Restricted-use pesticides may be procured and applied only by trained, certified applicators or those under their direct supervision.

Rodenticide

A substance used to kill rodents.

Sand fly

Any of the various small biting flies of the genus Phlebotomus. Sand flies are found in tropical areas, and some transmit diseases.

Sand fly fever

A mild viral disease transmitted by the bite of the sand fly, characterized by fever, malaise, eye pain, and headache.

Swing fog

Swing fog (also known as space spraying) is the use of a knock-down insecticide from an aerosol can to clear confined spaces (such as offices, kitchens, or inside aircraft).

Symptomatic exposure

A chemical exposure which triggers symptoms near the time of exposure. For example, exposure to excessive levels of organophosphate pesticides may cause runny nose, temporary cough, and burning eyes.

Synergist

A material that—when added to a pesticide—increases the effectiveness of that pesticide. A pesticide with a synergist has a sum total effect greater than that of the pesticide or synergist alone.

Synergistic effect

The simultaneous action of separate agents which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects.

Toxic

Harmful to living organisms.

Toxicity

The inherent capability of a substance to cause adverse effects in human, animal, or plant life.

Uncontrolled pesticide

A pesticide available without control through the military supply system or through local purchase. These pesticides may be applied by uncertified personnel without direct supervision.

West Nile Fever