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Recovery Plan for the California Red-legged Frog
CONTAMINANTS GLOSSARY acaricide
compound used to kill ticks and mites.
acute toxicity
the ability to cause a poisonous effect or death as a result of a shortterm or single exposure. Common acute effects are skin or eye irritation, vomiting, tremors.
bioaccumulate
increase in concentration in living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food.
carbamate
organic compounds based on carbamic acid (CO2NH3); cholinesterase inhibitors, they interfere with nerve function, cause malformations in developing embryos, and are suspected carcinogens.
carcinogen
cancer-causing agent.
cholinesterase
a neurotransmitter; cholinesterase inhibitors interfere with the transmission of nerve impulses. Symptoms of cholinesterase inhibition include nausea, vomiting, cramps, increased heart rate, and death.
chronic toxicity
the ability to cause a poisonous effect or death as a result of long-term exposure. Liver or kidney damage, impaired reproduction, and cancers are common chronic effects.
dinitroaniline
herbicides; in animals, they interfere with cell function, cause skin and eye irritation, and are carcinogenic and teratogenic.
fungicide
compound used to kill fungi.
herbicide
compound used to kill plants.
insecticide
compound used to kill insects.
miticide
compound used to kill mites.
molluscicide
a compound used to kill molluscs (snails, slugs, clams, etc.).
organochlorine
chlorinated hydrocarbons; compounds that contain, carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine, such as DDT; interfere with transmission of nerve impulses primarily in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord); bioaccumulate, carcinogens, suspected teratogens and mutagens; can travel long distances through air and groundwater.
organophosphate
compounds that contain, carbon, hydrogen, and phosphorus; cholinesterase inhibitors, they interfere with nerve function, cause malformations in developing embryos, and are suspected carcinogens.
pesticide
a general term for compounds used to kill organisms considered pests, including slugs, nematodes, insects, mites, rodents, birds, and plants.
phosphorothioate
a class of organophosphates that also contain sulfur.