Glossary D

The Environmental Glossary. Letter D +++ Popular Articles: 'Development', 'Disease', 'Durability'

A Dermal Toxicity is the ability of a Pesticide or toxic chemical to poison people or animals by contact with the skin. (See: contact pesticide.)

A DES is a synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol is used as a growth stimulant in food animals. Residues in Meat are thought to be carcinogenic.

A Desalination is [Desalinization] (1) Removing salts from ocean or Brackish water by using various technologies. (2) Removal of salts from soil by artificial means, usually leaching.

A Desertification is the progressive destruction or DEGRADATION of existing vegetative Cover to form desert. This can occur due to overgrazing, deforestation, drought, and the burning

A Desiccant is a chemical Agent that absorbs moisture; some Desiccants are

A Design Capacity is the average daily flow that a treatment plant or other facility is designed to accommodate.

A Design Value is the monitored reading used by EPA to determine an area's air quality status; e.g., for ozone, the fourth highest reading measured over the most recent three years is

A design-based is Statistical inferences using methodology based on the sampling design. Such inferences derive their properties from the design protocols.

A design-unbiased is Indicates that an estimator is unbiased under the design protocol.

A Designated Pollutant is an Air Pollutant which is neither a Criteria nor hazardous pollutant, as described in the Clean Air Act, but for which new source performance standards exist