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Glossary
Legislation Legally binding standards developed in the common interest of society.
In particular, legislation for safety and protection of human health and the environment in regard to chemical products and processes involves the development of a
system of rules for handling chemical technology.
Life cycle A series of stages through which a chemical product or process passes
during its lifetime. For a chemical product, this can include resource extraction and
provision of energy, production, use/consumption, as well as disposal, recycling,
and/or treatment of the wastes generated during all of these stages. For a chemical
process, this can include resource extraction and provision of energy, process
operation (including any involved transportation and storage), as well as disposal,
recycling, and/or treatment of the waste generated during all of these stages.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) A standardized method that can be used to identify,
quantify, and interpret the impacts on the environment caused by the resource
consumption and emissions related to a product and/or process. According to the
standards set by ISO 14040, a life cycle assessment should comprise the steps of
goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation.
Maximum residue level (MRL) The highest legally tolerated concentration of a
pesticide residue that is allowed to remain on food or animal feed when placed on
the market.
Mixture toxicity The overall toxic effect caused by the simultaneous exposure to a
mixture of multiple toxic substances. While each chemical individually has its own
toxic effect, in a mixture chemicals can interact in different ways to produce either
an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic overall effect.
Multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) A legally binding agreement set
up between three or more countries with the aim of achieving an environmental
goal.
Multimedia mass-balance model A type of model used to describe and estimate
the behavior of chemicals in the environment (their so-called environmental fate)
and their resulting concentrations in environmental compartments (e.g., air, water,
soil, sediment). Multimedia mass-balance models are based on mass-balance equations (incoming vs. outgoing flows) for all environmental compartments considered.
Net present value (NPV) The total present monetary value of a product or process
considering cash flows along its life cycle. It takes into account an adjustable
discount rate representative of costs associated with future potential risks, inflation,
and opportunity costs.
Glossary
Legislation Legally binding standards developed in the common interest of society.
In particular, legislation for safety and protection of human health and the environment in regard to chemical products and processes involves the development of a
system of rules for handling chemical technology.
Life cycle A series of stages through which a chemical product or process passes
during its lifetime. For a chemical product, this can include resource extraction and
provision of energy, production, use/consumption, as well as disposal, recycling,
and/or treatment of the wastes generated during all of these stages. For a chemical
process, this can include resource extraction and provision of energy, process
operation (including any involved transportation and storage), as well as disposal,
recycling, and/or treatment of the waste generated during all of these stages.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) A standardized method that can be used to identify,
quantify, and interpret the impacts on the environment caused by the resource
consumption and emissions related to a product and/or process. According to the
standards set by ISO 14040, a life cycle assessment should comprise the steps of
goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment, and interpretation.
Maximum residue level (MRL) The highest legally tolerated concentration of a
pesticide residue that is allowed to remain on food or animal feed when placed on
the market.
Mixture toxicity The overall toxic effect caused by the simultaneous exposure to a
mixture of multiple toxic substances. While each chemical individually has its own
toxic effect, in a mixture chemicals can interact in different ways to produce either
an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic overall effect.
Multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) A legally binding agreement set
up between three or more countries with the aim of achieving an environmental
goal.
Multimedia mass-balance model A type of model used to describe and estimate
the behavior of chemicals in the environment (their so-called environmental fate)
and their resulting concentrations in environmental compartments (e.g., air, water,
soil, sediment). Multimedia mass-balance models are based on mass-balance equations (incoming vs. outgoing flows) for all environmental compartments considered.
Net present value (NPV) The total present monetary value of a product or process
considering cash flows along its life cycle. It takes into account an adjustable
discount rate representative of costs associated with future potential risks, inflation,
and opportunity costs.