RMR - Definitions A-W

B
BCF means “bioconcentration factor”;
BOD/COD means “biochemical oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand”;
C
CA means “competent authority”;
Carcinogen means a substance or a mixture which induce cancer or increase its incidence;
CAS means “Chemical Abstract Service”;
CBI means “confidential business information”;
Chemical identity means a name that will uniquely identify a chemical. This can be a name that is in accordance with the nomenclature systems of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) or the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), or a technical name;
Chemically unstable gas means a flammable gas that is able to react explosively even in the absence of air or oxygen;
Competent authority means any national body(ies) or authority(ies) designated or otherwise recognized as such in connection with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS);
Compressed gas means a gas which when packaged under pressure is entirely gaseous at -50 °C; including all gases with a critical temperature  -50 °C;
Corrosive to metal means a substance or a mixture which by chemical action will materially damage, or even destroy, metals;
Critical temperature means the temperature above which a pure gas cannot be liquefied, regardless of the degree of compression;
D
Desensitized explosives mean solid or liquid explosive substances or mixtures which are phlegmatized to suppress their explosive properties in such a manner that they do not mass explode and do not burn too rapidly and therefore may be exempted from the hazard class “Explosives” (see Chapter 2.1; see also Note 2 to paragraph 2.1.2.2).
Dissolved gas means a gas which when packaged under pressure is dissolved in a liquid phase solvent;
Dust means solid particles of a substance or mixture suspended in a gas (usually air);
E
EC Number or (ECN) is a reference number used by the European Communities to identify dangerous substances, in particular those registered under EINECS;
ECx means the concentration associated with x% response;
EINECS means “European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances”;
Explosive article means an article containing one or more explosive substances;
Explosive substance means a solid or liquid substance (or mixture of substances) which is in itself capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings. Pyrotechnic substances are included even when they do not evolve gases;
F
Flammable gas means a gas having a flammable range with air at 20 °C and a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa;
Flammable liquid means a liquid having a flash point of not more than 93 °C;
Flammable solid means a solid which is readily combustible, or may cause or contribute to fire through friction;
Flash point means the lowest temperature (corrected to a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa) at which the application of an ignition source causes the vapours of a liquid to ignite under specified test conditions;
FAO means the “Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations”;
G
Gas means a substance which (i) at 50 °C has a vapour pressure greater than 300 kPa (absolute); or (ii) is completely gaseous at 20 °C at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa;
GESAMP means the “Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection of IMO/FAO/UNESCO/WMO/WHO/IAEA/UN/UNEP”;
GHS means the “Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals”;
H
Hazard category means the division of criteria within each hazard class, e.g. oral acute toxicity includes five hazard categories and flammable liquids includes four hazard categories. These categories compare hazard severity within a hazard class and should not be taken as a comparison of hazard categories more generally;
Hazard class means the nature of the physical, health or environmental hazard, e.g. flammable solid, carcinogen, oral acute toxicity;
Hazard statement means a statement assigned to a hazard class and category that describes the nature of the hazards of a hazardous product, including, where appropriate, the degree of hazard;
I
IAEA means the “International Atomic Energy Agency”;                                                                                                                                                                                              ICAO means the "International Civil Aviation Organization",                                                                                                                                                                                IATA/DGR means the "International Air Transport Association/Dangerous Goods Regulation"                                                                                                                                                                                                  IARC means the “International Agency for the Research on Cancer”;
ILO means the “International Labour Organization”;
IMO means the “International Maritime Organization”;                                                                                                                                                                                     IMDG code “International Maritime Dangerous Goods code"
Initial boiling point means the temperature of a liquid at which its vapour pressure is equal to the standard pressure (101.3 kPa), i.e. the first gas bubble appears;
IOMC means the “Inter-organization Programme on the Sound Management of Chemicals”;
IPCS means the “International Programme on Chemical Safety”;
ISO means the “International Organization for Standardization”;
IUPAC means the “International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry”;
L
Label means an appropriate group of written, printed or graphic information elements concerning a hazardous product, selected as relevant to the target sector(s), that is affixed to, printed on, or attached to the immediate container of a hazardous product, or to the outside packaging of a hazardous product;
Label element means one type of information that has been harmonized for use in a label, e.g. pictogram, signal word;
LC50 (50% lethal concentration) means the concentration of a chemical in air or of a chemical in water which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals;
LD50 means the amount of a chemical, given all at once, which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals;
L(E)C50 means LC50 or EC50;
Liquefied gas means a gas which when packaged under pressure, is partially liquid at temperatures above - 50 °C. A distinction is made between:
(i)  High pressure liquefied gas: a gas with a critical temperature between -50 °C and +65 °C; and
(ii) Low pressure liquefied gas: a gas with a critical temperature above +65 °C;
Liquid means a substance or mixture which at 50 °C has a vapour pressure of not more than 300 kPa (3 bar), which is not completely gaseous at 20 °C and at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa, and which has a melting point or initial melting point of 20 °C or less at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa. A viscous substance or mixture for which a specific melting point cannot be determined shall be subjected to the ASTM D 4359-90 test; or to the test for determining fluidity (penetrometer test) prescribed in section 2.3.4 of Annex A of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR);
M
MARPOL means the “International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships”;
Mist means liquid droplets of a substance or mixture suspended in a gas (usually air);
Mixture means a mixture or a solution composed of two or more substances in which they do not react;
Montreal Protocol means the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer as either adjusted and/or amended by the Parties to the Protocol.
Mutagen means an agent giving rise to an increased occurrence of mutations in populations of cells and /or organisms;
Mutation means a permanent change in the amount or structure of the genetic material in a cell;
N
NGO means “non-governmental organization”;
NOEC (no observed effect concentration) means the test concentration immediately below the lowest tested concentration with statistically significant adverse effect. The NOEC has no statistically significant adverse effect compared to the control;
O
OECD means the “Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development”;
Organic peroxide means a liquid or solid organic substance which contains the bivalent -O-O- structure and may be considered a derivative of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals. The term also includes organic peroxide formulations (mixtures);
Oxidizing gas means any gas which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does;
NOTE: “Gases which cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does” means pure gases or gas mixtures with an oxidizing power greater than 23.5% as determined by a method specified in ISO 10156:2010.
Oxidizing liquid means a liquid which, while in itself not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material;
Oxidizing solid means a solid which, while in itself not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material;
Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) means an integrative quantity, distinct for each halocarbon source species, that represents the extent of ozone depletion in the stratosphere expected from the halocarbon on a mass-for-mass basis relative to CFC-11. The formal definition of ODP is the ratio of integrated perturbations to total ozone, for a differential mass emission of a particular compound relative to an equal emission of CFC-11.
Q
QSAR means “quantitative structure-activity relationship”;
P
Pictogram means a graphical composition that may include a symbol plus other graphic elements, such as a border, background pattern or colour that is intended to convey specific information;
Precautionary statement means a phrase (and/or pictogram) that describes recommended measures that should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous product, or improper storage or handling of a hazardous product;
Product identifier means the name or number used for a hazardous product on a label or in the SDS. It provides a unique means by which the product user can identify the substance or mixture within the particular use setting e.g. transport, consumer or workplace;
Pyrophoric gas means a flammable gas that is liable to ignite spontaneously in air at a temperature of 54 ºC or below.
Pyrophoric liquid means a liquid which, even in small quantities, is liable of igniting within five minutes after coming into contact with air;
Pyrophoric solid means a solid which, even in small quantities, is liable of igniting within five minutes after coming into contact with air;
Pyrotechnic article means an article containing one or more pyrotechnic substances;
Pyrotechnic substance means a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these as the result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions;
Readily combustible solid means powdered, granular, or pasty substance or mixture which is dangerous if it can be easily ignited by brief contact with an ignition source, such as a burning match, and if the flame spreads rapidly;
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria means the latest revised edition of the United Nations publication bearing this title, and any published amendment thereto;
Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations means the latest revised edition of the United Nations publication bearing this title, and any published amendment thereto;
Refrigerated liquefied gas means a gas which when packaged is made partially liquid because of its low temperature;
Respiratory sensitizer means a substance or mixture that induces hypersensitivity of the airways occurring after inhalation of the substance or mixture;
RID means The Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail [Annex 1 to Appendix B (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Rail) (CIM) of COTIF (Convention concerning international carriage by rail)], as amended;
S
SAR means “Structure Activity Relationship”;
SDS means “Safety Data Sheet”;
Self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) means the lowest temperature at which self-accelerating decomposition may occur with substance as packaged;
Self-heating substance means a solid or liquid substance, other than a pyrophoric substance, which, by reaction with air and without energy supply, is liable to self-heat; this substance differs from a pyrophoric substance in that it will ignite only when in large amounts (kilograms) and after long periods of time (hours or days);
Self-reactive substance means a thermally unstable liquid or solid substance liable to undergo a strongly exothermic decomposition even without participation of oxygen (air). This definition excludes substances or mixtures classified under the GHS as explosive, organic peroxides or as oxidizing;
Signal word means a word used to indicate the relative level of severity of hazard and alert the reader to a potential hazard on the label. The GHS uses “Danger” and “Warning” as signal words;
Skin sensitizer means a substance or mixture that will induce an allergic response following skin contact;
Solid means a substance or mixture which does not meet the definitions of liquid or gas;
Substance means chemical elements and their compounds in the natural state or obtained by any production process, including any additive necessary to preserve the stability of the product and any impurities deriving from the process used, but excluding any solvent which may be separated without affecting the stability of the substance or changing its composition;
Substance which, in contact with water, emits flammable gases means a solid or liquid substance or mixture which, by interaction with water, is liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities;
Supplemental label element means any additional non-harmonized type of information supplied on the container of a hazardous product that is not required or specified under the GHS. In some cases this information may be required by other competent authorities or it may be additional information provided at the discretion of the manufacturer/distributor;
Symbol means a graphical element intended to succinctly convey information;
T
Technical name means a name that is generally used in commerce, regulations and codes to identify a substance or mixture, other than the IUPAC or CAS name, and that is recognized by the scientific community. Examples of technical names include those used for complex mixtures (e.g., petroleum fractions or natural products), pesticides (e.g., ISO or ANSI systems), dyestuffs (Colour Index system) and minerals;
U
UNCED means the “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development”;
UNCETDG/GHS means the “United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals”;
UN means the “United Nations”;
UNSCEGHS means the “United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals”;
UNSCETDG means the “United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods”;
V
Vapour means the gaseous form of a substance or mixture released from its liquid or solid state.
W
WHO means the “World Health Organization”;