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Category: EnviroGlossary

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance or mixture of substances can harm humans or animals. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

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Toxic Substances Control Act

National law, administered by the EPA, that assesses and regulates new commercial chemicals before their entrance into the market, regulates existing chemicals that pose an

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Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

A measure of the suspended solids in wastewater, effluent, or water bodies, determined by tests for total suspended non-filterable solids. — Source: Arizona Department of

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Total Nitrogen

The sum of the concentrations of all nitrogen forms in water, including ammonia (NH3), ammonium ion (NH4+), nitrite (NO2), and nitrate (NO3), and dissolved and

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Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

The total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental

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Threshold

The dose or exposure level below which a significant adverse effect is not expected. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

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Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

A toxic chlorocarbon, widely known as “perc,” which forms a colorless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental

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Tertiary Treatment

Advanced cleaning of wastewater that goes beyond the secondary or biological stage, removing nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and suspended solids. — Source: Arizona Department

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Tailings

Residue of raw material or waste separated out during the processing of crops or mineral ores. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

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Tail Water

The runoff of irrigation water from the lower end of an irrigated field. — Source: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

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Sustainable development

Development using land or energy sources in a way that meets the needs of people today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet

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Solar Panel

A panel fixed to the roof of a building that uses special cells to collect energy from the sun and convert it to electricity to

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Smog

Air pollution consisting of smoke and fog, which occurs in large urban and industrial areas and is mainly caused by the action of sunlight on

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Renewable resource

A resource that can be used again and again without reducing its supply because it is constantly topped up, for example wind or sun rays.

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Renewable energy

Energy from renewable resources such as wind power, solar energy or biomass — Source: Environmental Protection Agency

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Reforestation

The process of planting trees in forest lands to replace those that have been cut down. — Source: Environmental Protection Agency

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Radiation

A form of energy that is transmitted in waves, rays or particles from a natural source, such as the sun and the ground, or an

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Pesticide

A general term for any chemicals that are used to kill weeds, fungi, insects or other pests — Source: Environmental Protection Agency

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