Green Glossary
H
HAP:
see hazardous air pollutant
hazardous air pollutant::
Those pollutants that cause or may cause cancer, other serious health effects (such
as reproductive effects or birth defects) or adverse environmental and ecological effects. The EPA is required to control 188 HAPs including dioxin; asbestos; toluene; metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium and lead; benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Also known as toxic air pollutants. www.epa.gov
hazardous material:
Any material or substance, which if improperly handled or disposed of, can cause harm to the health and well-being of humans or the environment.
hazardous substance:
Defi ned by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) as "a
substance, which has the potential, through being used at work, to harm the health or safety of persons in the workplace." (A hazardous substance is, essentially, a hazardous material, but NOHSC uses the term "substance.")
hazardous waste:
Defi ned by RCRA as any waste that exhibits specifi c hazardous characteristics such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity.
HCFC:
see hydrochloroflurocarbon.
heavy metal:
Any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic at low concentrations. (Examples are mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, thallium and lead). Semi-metallic elements (such as antimony, arsenic, selenium and tellurium) are often included in this classification.
HFC:
see hydrofluorocarbon.
Hydrochloroflurocarbon (HCFC):
a compound that consists of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine and carbon. The
HCFCs are a class of replacements for CFCs. They contain chlorine and thus deplete stratospheric ozone, but to a much lesser extent than CFCs. Production of HCFCs are currently being phased out of production. www.epa.gov
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC):
A compound that consist of hydrogen, fluorine and carbon. The HFCs are a class of
replacements for CFCs. Because they do not contain chlorine or bromine, they do not deplete the ozone layer. www.epa.gov
