General Glossary

A secondary product of a
manufacturing process. A waste
byproduct is an unwanted byproduct
that can either be disposed of or
recycled.

A heavy, colorless, odorless gas,
present in the atmosphere or
formed by the burning of fuels
containing carbon. Carbon dioxide
is also exhaled by animals and
used by plants in photosynthesis.

A colorless, toxic gas produced by
incomplete burning of carbon-based
fuels, including: gasoline, oil
and wood. Carbon monoxide is also
produced from incomplete
combustion of many natural and
synthetic products. For instance,
cigarette smoke contains carbon
monoxide. When carbon monoxide
gets into the body, the carbon
monoxide combines with chemicals
in the blood and prevents the
blood from bringing oxygen to
cells, tissues and organs. The
human body needs oxygen for

An cancer causing substance or
agent.

The property of one substance that
enables it to burn, corrode or
dissolve another substance by
chemical reaction.

Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and
Liability Act -- the 1980 federal
Superfund law administered by the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).

CFCs are chemicals that have been
used in great quantities for
refrigeration and air
conditioning. When these chemicals
are released into the air, they
rise into the stratosphere and
create chemical reactions that
reduce and destroy the Earth's
stratospheric ozone layer. The
stratospheric ozone layer protects
the Earth's surface from the sun's
harmful radiation.

Common anionic form of chlorine
which carries one net negative
charge. A common anion in many
waters.

The original Clean Air Act was
passed in 1963, but our national
air pollution control program is
actually based on the 1970 version
of the law. The 1990 Clean Air Act
Amendments are the most far-
reaching versions of the 1970 law.
The 1990 amendments are commonly
referred to as the 1990 Clean Air
Act.

A program created by the
legislature in 1990 to protect and
improve ground water and surface
water in Minnesota by providing
financial and technical assistance
to local units of government
interested in controlling nonpoint
source pollution.