Acceptable risk:
Below this limit, a risk is accepted; above it, it is tolerated provided measures are observed.
Aerosol:
a mixture of solid and/or liquid particles in a gas (often air)
Agglomerate:
a loose arrangement of primary particles or of aggregates
Aggregate:
a firm arrangement of primary particles (for example resulting from fusion)
Amorphous:
not present in crystal form
Benchmark exposure level:
criterion for evaluation of exposure
Biopersistent:
not biodegradable in the body
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs):
tubular carbon particles the walls of which consist of one or more atomic layers
CE conformity:
compliance of products with the statutory product safety requirements of the EU
Differential Mobility Analysing Systems (DMAS)
A DMAS generally consists of three components:
(1) The particle charger, which charges the particles predictably as a function of their size;
(2) the differential electrical mobility classifier (DEMC); and
(3) the condensation particle counter, which counts the particles classed by size.
Epidemiological study:
scientific study of a cause-effect relationship within a population
Fullerene:
chemical compounds with spherical carbon molecules
Graphene:
Description of a modification of the carbon with two-dimensional structure in which each carbon atom is surrounded by
three further carbon atoms, creating a honeycomb pattern
Gravimetry:
measurement by weighing
Impaction:
stripping of particles by impact
Layered silicate:
an important sub-group of the silicate minerals, with a layered structure
Microcrystalline substances:
solids the grain size of which is not visible to the naked eye
Mobility equivalent diameter:
diameter of a sphere with the same mobility as the particle studied with random geometry
NanoCommission of the German federal government:
the German NanoCommission was created in 2006 as a central dialogue committee for the benefits and risks of
nanotechnology. It sets out criteria for the provisional assessment of benefits and risks, and formulates essential
principles for the responsible handling of nanomaterials.
Nanometre (nm):
one billionth of a metre (10-9 m)
Nanoscale:
on a scale of nanometres
NIOSH:
National Institute for Occupational Health, the US occupational safety and health institute
NOEL:
no observed effect level (referring to the concentration of a substance)
OECD:
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
Pelletized:
present in the form of compact particles
PMx:
aerodynamic diameter of a particle in µm which with a probability of 50% will be collected by measuring apparatus or
its sampling head and separated on a filter
Respirable dust fraction:
dust particles which penetrate the deep respiratory tract which is not lined with cilia
Tolerable risk:
risk limit for a risk which is no longer tolerable. Below this limit, a risk is tolerated; above it, it is not
tolerable.
Ubiquitous:
omnipresent, occurring everywhere
WHO fibre:
fibre which according to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO) corresponds in its carcinogenic effect
to asbestos, with the following dimensions:
