Glossary
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Endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) According to the World Health Organization, this is an “exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of
the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact
organism, or its progeny, or (sub)populations.”
Exposure Describes the presence of a chemical or another potentially hazardous
agent at a protected good. Exposure is quantified in terms of its magnitude
(concentration or dose of the chemical) and its duration.
External cost A cost that occurs when someone obtains a benefit at the expense of
other individuals or the greater society.
Formulated product A chemical product that contains a mixture of ingredients
that are both active substances and inactive substances, including so-called auxiliaries.
Functional unit Used within life cycle assessment as the reference utility or
service to which input and output flows and the associated impacts of a product
or process are all related.
Global warming potential (GWP) (1) A property of greenhouse gases that
indicates the heat absorbed by a gas relative to the heat absorbed by the same mass
of carbon dioxide. (2) The characterization factor used within life cycle impact
assessment to calculate climate change impacts. Often defined in terms of carbon
dioxide as the reference substance and expressed in units of kg carbon dioxide
equivalents.
Hazard An inherent property of a substance or situation with the potential to cause
harm.
Independent protection layer A specific type of safeguard designed and managed
to perform independently of any initiating cause or other protection layers.
Inherent safety One of the three guiding principles of integrated development
(in addition to eco-efficiency and social acceptability). It aims to proactively limit
hazards within a chemical product or process rather than rely on reactive approaches
such as risk control.
Integrated development An approach to creating chemical products and processes
that considers risks related to safety and the protection of human health and the
environment throughout the entire life cycle and from the very first development
steps. It makes use of inputs from multiple perspectives and areas of expertise, and
it encourages iterative improvements. It is based on the three guiding principles of
eco-efficiency, inherent safety, and social acceptability.
323
Endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) According to the World Health Organization, this is an “exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of
the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact
organism, or its progeny, or (sub)populations.”
Exposure Describes the presence of a chemical or another potentially hazardous
agent at a protected good. Exposure is quantified in terms of its magnitude
(concentration or dose of the chemical) and its duration.
External cost A cost that occurs when someone obtains a benefit at the expense of
other individuals or the greater society.
Formulated product A chemical product that contains a mixture of ingredients
that are both active substances and inactive substances, including so-called auxiliaries.
Functional unit Used within life cycle assessment as the reference utility or
service to which input and output flows and the associated impacts of a product
or process are all related.
Global warming potential (GWP) (1) A property of greenhouse gases that
indicates the heat absorbed by a gas relative to the heat absorbed by the same mass
of carbon dioxide. (2) The characterization factor used within life cycle impact
assessment to calculate climate change impacts. Often defined in terms of carbon
dioxide as the reference substance and expressed in units of kg carbon dioxide
equivalents.
Hazard An inherent property of a substance or situation with the potential to cause
harm.
Independent protection layer A specific type of safeguard designed and managed
to perform independently of any initiating cause or other protection layers.
Inherent safety One of the three guiding principles of integrated development
(in addition to eco-efficiency and social acceptability). It aims to proactively limit
hazards within a chemical product or process rather than rely on reactive approaches
such as risk control.
Integrated development An approach to creating chemical products and processes
that considers risks related to safety and the protection of human health and the
environment throughout the entire life cycle and from the very first development
steps. It makes use of inputs from multiple perspectives and areas of expertise, and
it encourages iterative improvements. It is based on the three guiding principles of
eco-efficiency, inherent safety, and social acceptability.