COSHH-CRYOGEN-CONTACT DERMATITIS-CNS DEPRESSANT-CARCINOGEN

CARCINOGEN
An agent (whether chemical, physical or biological) capable of increasing the incidence of malignant neoplasms. Defined in Regulation 2 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 as:
(a) any substance or preparation which if classified in accordance with the classification provided
for by Regulation 5 of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations
1994 would be in the category of danger, carcinogenic (category 1) or carcinogenic (category
2) whether or not the substance or preparation would be required to be classified under those
Regulations; or
(b) any substance or preparation:
(i) listed in Schedule 1, or
(ii) arising from a process specified in Schedule 1 which is a substance hazardous to health.

CATION
A positively charged atom or group of atoms, or a radical which moves to the negative
pole (cathode) during electrolysis.

CHEMICAL BOND
Strong forces of attraction holding atoms together in molecules or crystalline salts.

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS)
Organic substances containing chlorine and fluorine which were initially thought to be harmless and found extensive use, e.g., as propellants because they are largely non-flammable. Some CFCs have since been found to be one of the main sources of atmospheric ozone depletion and a greenhouse gas. Until recently they were used extensively as aerosol propellants, solvents, refrigerants and in foam making. Many countries have now agreed to eliminate CFCs as soon as possible.

CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS
Hydrocarbons containing chlorine atoms, e.g. trichloroethylene. Some of these chemicals accumulate in the food chain and do not readily degrade. Some plastics which contain certain chlorinated hydrocarbons release dioxins into the air, when burnt at low temperatures.

CHRONIC
Occurring for a prolonged period.

CHRONIC TOXICITY
Adverse health effects resulting from repeated daily exposures to a chemical for a significant period.

CLASS A FIRE
A fire involving solids, normally organic, in which combustion generally occurs with the formation of glowing embers.

CLASS A POISON (USA)
A toxic gas/liquid of such a nature that a very small amount of the gas, or vapour of the liquid, in air is dangerous to life.

CLASS B FIRE
A fire involving liquids or liquefiable solids.

CLASS B POISON (USA)
Any substance known to be so toxic that it poses a severe health hazard during transportation.

CLASS C FIRE
A fire involving gases or liquefied gases in the form of a liquid spillage, or a liquid or gas leak.

CLASS D FIRE
A fire involving metals.

CNS DEPRESSANT
Substances, e.g. anaesthetics and narcotics, which depress the activity of the central nervous system. Symptoms following exposure include headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness, respiratory or cardiac depression, death.

CONFINED SPACE
A space which is substantially, although not always entirely, enclosed and where there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of serious injury from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby. The risks may include flammable substances; oxygen deficiency or enrichment; toxic gases, fume or vapour; ingress or presence of liquids; free-flowing solids; presence of excessive heat. For the purpose of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 a ‘confined space’ means any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.

CONTACT DERMATITIS
Inflammation of the skin due to exposure to a substance that attacks its surface.

CONTROLLED WASTE
All household, industrial or commercial waste of any quantity or description.

CORROSIVE
A substance that chemically attacks a material with which it has contact (body cells, materials of construction).

COSHH (CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH)
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 establish the responsibilities of employers with regard to all substances which pose a health hazard in the workplace.

CRYOGEN
A substance used to obtain temperatures far below freezing point of water, e.g. < – 78°C.

CVCE (CONFINED VAPOUR CLOUD EXPLOSION)
Explosion of a gas or vapour which is initially ‘confined’ within a vessel, building, piping, etc.

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BASE-BATNEEC-BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND-BLACK LIST -BEST PRACTICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION-BLEVE, BOILING LIQUID EXPANDING VAPOUR EXPLOSION-BLOWING AGEN

BASE
A chemical compound whose aqueous solution turns red litmus paper blue and is capable of accepting or receiving a proton from another substance. They react with acids to form salts and
water.

BATNEEC
Term used in the Environmental Protection Act and other legislation. Certain polluting
processes are required to use the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Cost
(BATNEEC) to reduce the environmental impact of a prescribed process as far as possible.
Environment Agency inspectors determine what constitutes BATNEEC for each application and
are to change the definition as improved technologies or techniques become available.

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
Official term given to measure how polluting organic industrial effluent is when it is discharged into water. This effluent is feed for bacteria which consume oxygen, making it more difficult for plant and fish life to survive. The lower the BOD level, the less polluting the effluent.

BLACK LIST
The Black List was introduced by the EC in Directive 76/464/EEC on dangerous substances released into water as list I. It contains substances selected mainly on the basis of their
toxicity, persistence and accumulation in living organisms and in sediment.

BEST PRACTICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OPTION (BPEO)
Organizations may be encouraged to undertake systematic decision processes with a view to seeking the BPEO that provides the most benefit (or least damage) to the environment, at an acceptable cost.

BLEVE, BOILING LIQUID EXPANDING VAPOUR EXPLOSION
Instantaneous release and ignition of flammable vapour upon rupture of a vessel containing flammable liquid above its atmospheric boiling point.

BLOWING AGENT
Chemical liable to decomposition at low temperature to produce a large volume of gas.

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ACID, ACUTE, ACUTE TOXICITY, AEROSOL, AFFF, AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAM , ALCOHOL-RESISTANT FOAM, ASPHYXIA

ACID
A chemical compound whose aqueous solution turns blue litmus paper red, reacts with and
dissolves certain metals to form salts, and reacts with bases to produce salts and water. They are
capable of transferring a hydrogen ion (proton) in solution.

ACUTE
Describes a severe and often dangerous condition in which relatively rapid changes occur.

ACUTE TOXICITY
Adverse health effects occurring within a short time period of exposure to a single dose of a chemical or as a result of multiple exposures over a short time period, e.g. 24 hours.

AEROSOL
A colloidal suspension of liquid or solid particles dispersed in gas.

AFFF, AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAM
Fire-fighting foam which flows on burning liquid as a film, providing rapid knock-down.

ALCOHOL-RESISTANT FOAM
Foam for use against fires involving liquids miscible with water, e.g. alcohol, acetone.

ANION
A negatively charged atom or group of atoms, or a radical which moves to the positive pole
(anode) during electrolysis.

ANOXIA
Deficient supply of oxygen to tissues.

ANTIBODY
A modified protein circulating in the serum of an animal, synthesized in response to a
foreign molecule (antigen) that has entered the body.

ANTIGEN
A foreign substance (usually a protein) that stimulates formation of antibody.

ASPHYXIA
The result of a diminished supply of oxygen to the blood and tissues and interference
with the respiratory function. Simple anoxia may be caused by ‘inert gases’, e.g. nitrogen, and
some flammable gases, e.g. methane. Toxic anoxia may be caused by certain substances, e.g.
carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, which interfere with the body’s ability to transfer or
utilize oxygen in the tissues. Rapid unconsciousness and death can occur in either case.

ASTHMA
Periodic attacks of wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness resulting from constriction
of the airways.

ATOM
The smallest unit of an element incapable of further subdivision in the course of a chemical
reaction.

ATOMIC NUMBER
The number of protons in an atomic nucleus.

ATOPY
Hypersensitivity where tendency to allergy is inherited.

AUTO-IGNITION TEMPERATURE
The minimum temperature required to initiate or cause self-sustained combustion of material in the absence of any external source of energy. (Values may change significantly with geometry, gas/vapour concentration, and presence of catalyst.) Any ignition source must be at a temperature of, or greater than, the ignition temperature of the specific substance.

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