Its a jungle out there!

ESD is full of acronyms, a jungle of TLA's (three letter acronyms)! Its also an area where terminology ranges from the mundane to the medical with every combination in between.

Hence the Glossary

Have you come across a strange sounding chemical? An unfamiliar phrase or expression? While far from comprehensive the Ecospecifier glossary aims to provide some guidance to the plethora of words and phrases used in sustainable design talk.

Have you got a new one?

If you have come across a piece or jargon or a term you are not familiar with, contact us at info@ecospecifier . If we don't know the answer we may be able to find out, and we also have a new candidate to add to the glossary - so hopefully the next person will find the answer they seek.

 

Acetone

Solvent, Cellulose glues and a wide range of products e.g. paint thinners. Weak nervous toxin.

Acrylonitrile

Synthetic rubber, Carcinogenic

Aniline (phenylamine)  or aminobenzene is an organic chemical compound which is a primary aromatic amine consisting of a benzene and an amino group. It is toxic by inhalation of the vapour, absorption through the skin or swallowing. It causes headache, drowsiness, cyanosis, mental confusion and in severe cases can cause convulsions. Prolonged exposure to the vapour or slight skin exposure over a period of time affects the nervous system and the blood, causing tiredness, loss of appetite, headache and dizziness. Some authorities class aniline as a carcinogen although the IARC lists it in Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans) due to the limited and contradictary data available.  ref: Muir, GD (ed.) 1971,

Arsenic (refer also Heavy Metals)

Wood preservative, Poison. Lethal dose can be as low as 70mg. Chromium is one of a group of chemicals that cannot be added during manufacture if furniture is to be awarded a Good Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel. IARC caterories it as a Group 1 Carcinogen ie carcinogenic to humans.

Benzene (refer also toluene and xylene)

Aromatic readily absorbed through the skin, eliminated very slowly. Low-level chronic exposure (e.g. by painters) can lead to liver damage and possibly cancer (Thurtell L. Ed 2003). Mineral turps can contain up to 20% benzene in Australia.

Bisphenol-A

Plastic hardner, Suspected endochrine disruptor, environmentally persistent, may affect fertility

Borax

Fungicide and insecticide. Fire retardent in fabrics and cellulose fibre insulation.

Moderately toxic if swallowed. Considered low-level environmental toxin, preferred alternative to other toxins e.g. CCA treatment.

Butadiene

In styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), Probably carcinogenic (Berge 2000)

Bromine and derivative compounds

Fire retardants, e.g. in cellulose insulation, Toxic in event of fire. May be bio accumulative. May be endocrine disruptors.

Cadmium

Used in paints with red, yellow pigments. Stabiliser in PVC. Fungicide. Highly toxic, greatest risk from inhalation of fumes or dust. Persistent in the body. Cadmium is one of a group of chemicals that cannot be added during manufacture if furniture is to be awarded a Good Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel.

Chromium

A heavy metal that is used in many building products including tapware, stainless steel, leather tanning and timber CCA preservatives. IARC lists it in Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans). Chromium is one of a group of chemicals that cannot be added during manufacture if furniture is to be awarded a Good Environmental Choice Australia Ecolabel.

Carbon black

Pigment, Possible carcinogen

Chloroprene

Synthetic rubber & glue, Carcinogenic, damages liver

Epoxy resin

Varnishes, adhesives, paints and caulking., Highly allergenic and sensitising. A suspected carcinogen. Inert once fully cured.

Ethylene Glycol, glycol esters

Synthetic solvents used in paints, laquers, resins.,

Heavy metals

arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, zinc.

Pigments in paints, inclusions in many, many products. Toxic to highly-toxic. Some pigments e.g. strontium yellow, emerald green, manganese blue, are known carcinogens (Thurtell L. Ed 2003).

Formaldehyde

In urea, phenol and melamine formaldehyde glues use in chipboard and plys; disinfectants and preservatives; finish for carpets, textiles and paper , IARC categorised as a Group 1 carcinogen ie a human carcinogen. Respiratory and mucous membrane irritant at low levels. The most common domestic air pollutant (Thurtell L. Ed 2003)

Isocyanate, Polyurethane

Glues, Strongly allergenic and irritant for mucous membranes

Limonene, d-limonene

Solvent used in many ‘natural’ paints, Slightly allergenic; slight irritant of mucous membranes

PCP - Pentachlorophenol

Is a man-made (i.e., it does not otherwise occur in nature) fungicide which is an organochloride. It is toxic to humans. It has been used as a pesticide and preservative on timber and leather.

Phenol

Ingredient in glues, disinfectants., Highly toxic. Depressant to central nervous system. Can cause liver damage.

Phthalates

Plasticisers in a range of plastics, up to 50% content., pseudo-oestrogens, endocrine disruption, moderately persistent environmental poisons. Higher risk to children. Have been shown to have pseudo-eostrogenic effects in humans and other mammals. They are VOCs emitted  by common materials sources such as vinyl fabric, floors, toys etc as they evaporate slowly at room temperatures. Pthalates have been linked to female breast-tissue growth in men, dropping male sperm counts and may contribute to the excess oestrogen that is suspected as having causal links to increasing breast cancer rates.

PVC

Polyvinyl chloride.  In its plasticised form PVC contains a range of softeners including a range of chemicals known as Pthalates (see Glossary above)  There are 'upstream' OH&S and environmental issues and downstream disposal issues as very few recycling opporunties exist. Issues mostly surround problematic and persistent chlorinated organic compounds. See also UPVC, Vinyl Chloride information below.

For more information on PVC refer to our links under internet resources

Pyrethroids (synthetic version of naturally occurring pyrethrum)

Insecticide e.g. anti-termicide, Different generation products have different toxicities. 3rd generation products e.g.permethrin 25/75 not considered highly toxic to humans or mammals, toxic to fish. Fourth generation products e.g. Bifenthrin considered more toxic. More stable, can be used in lower doses than previous forms (Thurtell L. Ed 2003)

Silicones

Caulking compounds, plastics, rubbers., Very stable and inert, low toxicity. Potential toxicity comes from additives.

Styrene, Polystyrene, Styrene Butadiene (SBR) Rubbers,

Mucous membrane irritant, damages reproductive organs.

Transport Energy

The embodied energy of transport. Depending on the form of transport used different modes of transport consume different amounts of fuel. There is a widespread misconception that if a product is manufactured overseas, it has high embodied transport energy. Whereas in fact, because sea transport is between 3300 (general cargo ship) to 4100 (large container ship) times more fuel efficient than the most efficient form of bulk road transport, the diesel semi-trailer (0.53MJ/tonne.km), if the product travels only short distances by road overseas, the imported product will contain less embodied transport energy than say one that is manufactured interstate, regionally or even in outer urban areas. If it is transported on smaller less efficient trucks it may be the case if the a product has to travel even comparatively small distances of say 30-50km.

Trichloroethylene

Chlorinated solvent, refer ‘Benzene’ above

Vegetable turpentine

Solvent , Slightly irritant and allergenic

Vinyl chloride

Monomer of PVC, known & persistent carcinogen. Traces left in PVC can slowly diffuse out, although unlikely they would form harmful air concentrations (Thurtell L. Ed 2003).

UPVC

Unplasticised PVC that does not contain pthalates. Lifecycle phase issues not significant from eco-impacts viewpoint. Disposal concerns similar to PVC.  

For more information on PVC refer to our links under internet resources

VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds - organic compounds with a boiling point between 50 degC  and 260 deg C or a a vapour pressure more than 0.1mm Hg 25 C.

50°C and 260°C. The term encompasses a very large and diverse group of carbon-containing compounds, including aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons; aldehydes; ethers; esters; acids; alcohols and ketones. Examples of VOCs include benzene, toluene, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride and some pesticides. Benzine is a Group 1 carcinogen (IARC), as is formaldehyde. VOCs are found in many products including paints, adhesives, building board and composite timber, fabric dressing, lacquers, some foams, some carpets and vinyl/plasticised PVC.

VOC Standards: Paints - several Australian organisations have standards for paints including the Australian Ecolabelling Association (AELA) and the Australian Paint Approval Scheme (APAS D181).

APAS Standards for Paint VOCs are as follows:

                                                                      Av Max

• Exterior gloss                                           75 100
• Low odour/low environmental impact        5   5

Note: these levels are for untinted paints and most tint systems contain high VOC content - so when tinting mid-dark colours check with manufacturers for actual VOC levels

AELA Standards for Paint VOCs are as follows:

                                                                       Av Max

• Exterior gloss                                              75 75
• Interior flat ceiling                                       14  14
• Interior Gloss                                              75  75
• Interior flat washable                                  16  16

Note: these levels are inclusive of maximum tint levels for tinted paints and most tint systems contain high VOC content - so when tinting mid-dark colours check with manufacturers for actual VOC levels.

Wool - [environmental effects of wool production] - Wool is a keratin based fibre. Environmental effects of wool production in Australia and New Zealand include soil compaction by cloven hooves and habitat loss due to demand for fertiliser dependant, specialised pasture plant species and land clearing. Sheep also produce methane which is a potent Greenhouse gas.

Sources

Berge, B. (2000). Ecology of Building Materials. Oxford, Butterworth Heinemann.

IARC (1987). VINYL CHLORIDE, IARC,. 2003.

IARC (1999). Re-Evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals, Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide, IARC,. 2003.

IARC (2002). Styrene (Group 2B), IARC,. 2003.

Muir, GD (ed.) 1971, Hazards in the Chemical Laboratory, The Royal Institute of Chemistry, London.

Thurtell L. Ed (2003). A-Z Chemicals in the Home. Sydney, Choice Books

Dept Env & Heritage, (2001) State of Knowledge Report: Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality in Australia.