| environmental protection agency | <organisation> The U.S. Regulatory agency for biotechnology of microbes. The major lawsunder which the agency has regulatory powers are the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide act (FIFRA), and the Toxic Substances ControlAct (TSCA). (30 Mar 1998) |
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| environmental psychology | The study and application by behavioural scientists and architects of how changes in physical space and related physical stimuli impact upon the behaviour of individuals. See: personal space. (05 Mar 2000) |
| environmental quality objective | This is a regulatory value defining the quality to be aimed for in a particular aspect of the environment. Unlike an environmental quality standard, an EQO is not usually expressed in quantitative terms and cannot be enforced legally. (09 Oct 1997) |
| environmental quality standard | This regulatory value defines the maximum concentration of a potentially toxic substance which can be allowed in an environmental compartment, usually air (air quality standard - AQS) or water, over a defined period. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy | <technique> Scanning electron microscopy is performed by scanning a focused probe across the surface of the sample to be studied. In the environmental scanning electron microscopy the composition and pressure of the atmosphere around the specimen may be controlled. In favourable cases non-conductive specimens may be examined without coating, and hydrated specimens may be examined with the water still in place. Acronym: ESEM (05 Aug 1998) |
| environmental tobacco smoke | A complex mixture of chemical constituents and particulates released into the atmosphere from the burning tip of a cigarette, pipe or cigar or from smoke exhaled by the smoker. (09 Oct 1997) |
| environmental variance | Within a population, the measure of how much of the variation of a particular phenotype is due to environmental factors (as opposed to variations in genotype. An example might be the height of a human as determined by such factors as nutrition or infectious diseases during childhood. See: genetic variance. (09 Oct 1997) |
| united states environmental protection agency | An agency in the executive branch which endeavors to abate and control pollution in the areas of air, water, solid waste, noise, radiation, and toxic substances. (12 Dec 1998) |
| apical interstitial lung disease | <radiology> A radiological diagnosis where fibrosis is seen in the apices (upper sections) of the lungs. Likely causes include: cystic fibrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, silicosis, eosinophlic granuloma, TB and fungus, particularly aspergillus infection. (25 Jun 1999) |
| asbestos lung disease | <radiology> Pleural plaques, earliest finding, may be only evidence, parietal pleura, 15-20 yrs after exposure, calcified after ca. 30 yrs, asbestosis, interstitial lung disease, perihilar regions to lung bases, shaggy heart, no cavitation or progressive massive fibrosis as in silicosis, crocidolite (blue) form most carcinogenic, associated with: malignant pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, GI-tract malignancy (12 Dec 1998) |
| basilar interstitial lung disease | <radiology> B bronchiectasis, A asbestosis, D drugs / DIP, L lymphangitic metastasis / LAM, A aspiration, S sarcoidosis, S scleroderma (12 Dec 1998) |
| parasitic eosinophilic lung disease | <radiology> All are metazoans (mostly nematodes), Ascaris, Strongyloides, Ancyclostoma, Schistosoma, tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, pulmonary larva migrans (12 Dec 1998) |
| rheumatoid lung disease | <radiology> Pleural effusion, most common finding, seen mostly in males (although RA more common in females), diffuse interstitial fibrosis, necrobiotic nodules, Caplan syndrome, nodules and pneumoeritis and hypertension (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug-induced eosinophilic lung disease | <radiology> Diffuse reticular pattern: nitrofurantoin, Loeffler-like pattern: penicillin, sulfonamides, ASA, para-ASA, imipramine, HCTZ, cromolyn sodium see: eosinophilic lung disease (12 Dec 1998) |
| interstitial lung disease | <chest medicine> A group of lung disorders which result in scarring and dysfunction of the alveolus (air sac) in the lung. This results in poor oxygen diffusion from the air into the bloodstream. Widespread inflammation in the lung leads to fibrosis (scarring). Causes include chronic exposure to organic and inorganic dusts, fumes, vapors, radiation, medications and certain lung infections. Examples include asbestosis, silicosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis and diffuse interstitial fibrosis. Smoking increases the risk in all cases. (27 Sep 1997) |