Public Health Assessment Public Comment Release
5. Receptor Population.
When all 5 parts of an exposure pathway are present, it is called a
Completed Exposure Pathway. Each of these 5 terms is defined in this
Glossary.
How often a person is exposed to a chemical over time; for example,
every day, once a week, twice a month.
Substances that have been released or thrown away into the
Hazardous Waste
environment and, under certain conditions, could be harmful to people
who come into contact with them.
Health Effect
ATSDR deals only with Adverse Health Effects (see definition in this
Glossary).
The category is used in Public Health Assessment documents for sites
Indeterminate
where important information is lacking (missing or has not yet been
Public Health
gathered) about site-related chemical exposures.
Hazard
Swallowing something, as in eating or drinking. It is a way a chemical
Ingestion
can enter your body (see Route of Exposure).
Inhalation
Breathing. It is a way a chemical can enter your body (see Route of
Exposure).
LOAEL
Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level. The lowest dose of a chemical
in a study, or group of studies, that has caused harmful health effects in
people or animals.
Malignancy
See Cancer.
MRL
Minimal Risk Level. An estimate of daily human exposure B by a
specified route and length of time -- to a dose of chemical that is likely
to be without a measurable risk of adverse, noncancerous effects. An
MRL should not be used as a predictor of adverse health effects.
NPL
The National Priorities List. (Which is part of Superfund.) A list kept
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the most
serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country.
An NPL site needs to be cleaned up or is being looked at to see if
people can be exposed to chemicals from the site.
NOAEL
No Observed Adverse Effect Level. The highest dose of a chemical in a
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