A standard by which water filters are judged.

Single exposure to an environmental condition (not lasting more than a day). Acute exposures contrast with chronic exposures, which are prolonged and repeated. Single exposures still have effects on health.

Small thin-walled air-containing compartments of the lung that are typically arranged in saclike clusters that give the tissue a honeycomb appearance and expand its surface area for the purpose of air exchange.

Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Asthma attacks are often triggered by exposure to allergens, and during an attack the airways spasm, alternatively swelling and narrowing, causing the individual to wheeze or gasp for air.

Any disease that is persistent or has long-lasting health effects.

Internal clock that keeps the body's hormones and bodily processes on a roughly 24-hour cycle, even in continuous darkness.

A group of diseases that impact the metabolism due to insufficient insulin production (Type 1) and/or high insulin resistance (Type 2), and a leading cause of death. Results in poor blood sugar control, frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger and other symptoms.

A standard format for reporting product content and associated health information for building products and materials.

Filter which removes 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometers and satisfies standards of efficiency set by the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology.

The integrated body system of organs, tissues, cells and cell products such as antibodies that differentiates self from non-self and neutralizes potentially harmful organisms or substances.

Localized protective reaction of tissue to irritation, injury or infection, characterized by pain, redness, swelling and sometimes loss of function.

An organ that plays a vital role in a range of important metabolic processes including detoxification, protein synthesis and glycogen storage.

Any biochemical process that occurs within an organism that is necessary to sustain life.

Different spectral distributions of light which produce the same response on the cones and are therefore visually identical.

Diseases of the brain and nervous system.

An infectious biological agent such as bacteria, virus and fungus that is capable of causing disease in its host.

The energy and particles which are released during the decomposition process of atomic nuclei is called radiation.

Light-sensitive membrane found at the back end of the eyeball that receives the image produced by the lens.

A set of symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, eye irritation and breathing difficulties, that typically affect workers in modern airtight office buildings, and that are believed to be caused by indoor pollutants and poor environmental control.

Extent to which a substance is harmful to a living thing.

Designing objects and spaces with aesthetically pleasing while maximizing accessibility, usability and operability regardless of the user's age, ability and other factors.

Ability for occupants to be able to choose their own workspace within the office or workplace.

Areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building.

Any outdoor pathways designated for pedestrian or biker use.

Personal habits and practices that help maximize sleep quality.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standards 62.1 is the recognized standard for ventilation system design and acceptable procedure with regards to establishing an effective ventilation system.

Outlines current indoor air quality guidelines for the workplace.

Glasswork, which must be carefully designed in order to avoid excessive glare and heat gain.

A physical area within a building that encourages group interplay and discussion though its strategic layout and design.

Quantified environmental data for a product with pre-set categories of parameters based on the International Organization of Standards (ISO) 14040 series of standards, but not excluding additional environmental information.

Substances consisting of very fine particles of a liquid or solid suspended in a gas. For example, mist which consists of very fine droplets of water in air.

Proteins generally found in the blood that detect and rid the body of potentially damaging organisms, such as bacteria and viruses.

Colorless, odorless and highly poisonous gas formed by incomplete combustion. Replaces oxygen in hemoglobin, limiting blood's ability to deliver oxygen and can lead to death.

Particulate matter larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter; also called PM₁₀. Often found near roadways and dusty industries.

Particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. Can be directly emitted from combustion sources such as forest fires or can form when gases emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles react in the air. Also called PM₂.₅

Substances typically added to processed foods to enhance or preserve flavor or appearance.

A simple sugar that is found naturally in small amounts in fruits and vegetables, but which occurs in extremely large quantities in many modern foods. High fructose intake has been implicated in liver disease, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

A group of pesticides commonly used on farms and lawns to eliminate weeds from the fields.

Made by forcing hydrogen gas into oil at high pressure in order to increase the shelf life and prevent rancidity of an oil.

A naturally occurring metal found deep within the ground. Used in creation of old pipes, ceramics and paint. Also the stable final element of uranium's radioactive decay series.

A chemical that is required for metabolic processes, which must be taken from food or another external source. Macronutrients taken from food sources include carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins.

Triatomic form of oxygen. Hazardous to the respiratory system at ground level, but a layer in the upper atmosphere blocks much of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

A synthetic resin used chiefly in paints and varnishes. Diisocyanates in poloyurethane products can be toxic if inhaled or touched during installation.

Radioactive, carcinogenic noble gas generated from the decay of natural deposits of uranium.

A poisonous substance produced by a living organism.

A low-cost thermosetting resin that is used in the wood product industry.

Any toxic substance, generally created by human activity.

Any of a group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starches, celluloses and gums and serves as a major energy source to support bodily functions and physical activity. Easily digestible carbohydrates found in white bread, pastries and soda may contribute to weight gain and promote diabetes and heart disease.

Polyunsaturated fats are among the “good” fats that can help reduce cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease and stroke. Polyunsaturated fats are found in sunflower, corn, soybean and flaxseed oils, walnuts and many fish.

A complex mixture of elemental and organic carbon, salts, mineral and metal dust, ammonia and water that coagulate together into tiny solids and globules.

A former commercially produced synthetic organic chemical compound that may be present in products and materials produced before the 1979 PCB ban.

An element found in the earth’s crust that has applications in various industrial processes, however runoff from factories, agricultural practices and natural deposits can lead to high concentrations in water.

Enters groundwater and surface water by dissolution of rocks and soils, from atmospheric fallout and biological decays and waste disposal.

Widely used as a precursor to various materials such as detergents, dyes, pesticides, Styrofoam, nylon and other synthetic fibers.

Typical applications include solvents for the printing, rubber and leather industries as well as ingredients in paper and fabric coatings.

Among the most widely used pesticides in the United States and among the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water.

A non-selective herbicide used in many pesticide formulations; exposure may result from its normal use due to spray drift, residues in food crops and from runoff into drinking water sources.

A highly irritating, greenish-yellow gaseous halogen, capable of combining with nearly all other elements, produced principally by electrolysis of sodium chloride and used widely to purify water, as a disinfectant and bleaching agent.

Chlorine in water can combine with organic matter to form compounds called disinfectant byproducts (DBPs), such as trihalomethanes.

Small amounts are required for a healthy diet, but higher amounts may cause neurological damage.

Sulfates occur naturally and can erode into water supplies; the health effects of sulfates are uncertain, but ingesting large amounts has been linked to negative health effects.

Bacteria and microscopic algae and fungi, especially those living in a particular site or habitat.

A potentially toxic and potentially cancer-causing substance that can be naturally present in uncooked, raw foods in very small amounts.

The concentration of an air pollutant (eg. ozone) is given in micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per cubic meter air or μg/m³.

Light Reflectance Value; measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from (or absorbs into) a painted surface.

Sound pressure level (SPL), also known as acoustic pressure, is the pressure variation associated with sound waves. Usually measured in decibels, the acoustic pressure is a ratio between the measured value and a reference value; a common reference is threshold of hearing or the minimum sound level that the average person can hear.

Measurement of luminous intensity and the SI base unit of light.

Comparison of the appearance of 8 to 14 colors under a light source in question, to a blackbody source of the same color temperature. CRI or Ra refers to the average of the first 8 comparisons and R9 describes the lighting accuracy on red surfaces.

A unit of measurement for sound. The decibel is a logarithmic unit so an increase in 10 decibels equals an increase by a factor of 10.

The time averaged sound pressure level on the A-weighted scale, converted to decibels.

Ratio of partial pressure of water vapor in the air to the saturation pressure of water vapor at the same temperature and pressure.

Rating from 0 (black) to 100 (white) describing the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from (or absorbs into) a painted surface.

Measurement of how bright a surface or light source will appear to the eye. Measured in candela/m² or foot-lamberts.

Radiant power weighted to human vision, describing light emitted by a source in a particular direction. Measured by the candela.

Enforceable water quality limits for a substance, based on the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, but taking into account technology and cost limitations of treatment.

Rate that chemical energy in the body is converted to heat and mechanical energy.

Time it takes for sound to decay. The most commonly used reverberation time is RT60, the time it takes for the sound level to decrease 60 decibels. Additional reverberation time measurements are RT20 and RT30, for decreases of 20 and 30 decibels, respectively.

The distance between two points on a wave in which the wave repeats itself. Often used to describe light waves.

Unit of illuminance, one lux being equivalent to one lumen per square meter.

Percentage of floor space where a minimum light level (for example 300 lux) can be met completely for some proportion (for example 50%) of regular operating hours by natural light.

Value assigned to an air filter to describe the amount of different types of particles removed when operating at the least effective point in its life.

A measurement that takes into account a building inhabitants’ physical output; it is recommended a building obtains a Walk Score® of 70 or greater.

A unit of measurement to express very dilute concentrations of substances.

Measures the mass of gas that passes through a certain point.

Unit of measurement for light.

Amount of light in the visible portion of the spectrum that passes through a glazing material.

Extent to which a physical structure blocks out sound, typically used in describing flooring, a higher IIC reduces footfall noise, and other impact sounds.