vocabulary 579
Organic matter anything that is or was
alive, that can rot and decompose,
such as plants, animals, insects, and
bacteria. Organic matter makes the
soil rich.
Organic waste food scraps, crop waste,
manure, and other remains of living
things that break down and go back to
the soil.
P
Paracetamol See acetaminophen.
Paralysis inability to move.
Parasites tiny worms or animals that can
live in or on a person or animal, and
may cause disease.
Passive solar design a way to design
buildings using the location and
climate for natural heating, cooling,
and lighting.
PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic
chemicals used in paints, plastics
and electronic equipment. PCBs are
long-lasting in the environment, and
difficult to get rid of safely. PCBs are
Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Pesticide a poisonous chemical used to
kill insects, weeds, rodents, or plant
diseases.
Petrol See gasoline.
Petroleum See oil.
Pioneer species very hardy plants that
are the first to grow back on damaged
lands.
Placenta a spongy organ in a pregnant
woman’s womb through which all blood
and nutrients pass to the developing
baby. Unfortunately, many toxics can
also pass through the placenta and
harm the baby even before it is born.
Plaintiff a person who undertakes a
lawsuit because he or she has suffered
some sort of harm.
Plant breeding when farmers select
seeds to grow plants that are bigger,
resist pests, taste better, or have other
desirable traits. Used by farmers
throughout the ages, plant breeding
has resulted in the many delicious and
nutritious varieties of crops we have
today.
Plastic a material made from petroleum
and other chemicals. Plastic is
convenient, but making it, using it, and
disposing of it can expose people to
toxics.
Plumb line a weight hanging on a string
that is used with an A-frame to
measure whether a surface is level.
Pollinate when pollen is spread from one
flower to another to make a seed or
fruit grow.
Pollinator an insect or animal that carries
pollen from one flower to another,
helping to fertilize plants. The wind
also helps spread pollen.
Pollution harmful wastes that are
released into air, water, or the ground.
Pneumonia an illness that causes fever,
coughing, and weakness.
POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants are a
group of toxic chemicals that are very
long-lasting in the environment. Dioxins
and PCBs are POPs.
Precautionary principle the idea that
“If there is reason to believe that
something may cause harm, even if we
do not know for certain, then it is better
to avoid it than to risk doing harm.”
Predator an animal that hunts and eats
other animals.
Progesterone a hormone in women’s bodies
that controls reproduction, along with
estrogen.
Price support a price set by the
government that helps farmers by
setting a higher market price for some
foods they produce.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012