Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Grab sample:
A single sample that is collected at a particular time and place and
represents the composition of the water, air, or soil only at that time and
location.
Ground zero:
From 1946 until 9/11, ground zero was the point directly above,
below, or at which a nuclear explosion occurs or the center or origin of
rapid, intense, or violent activity or change. After 9/11, the term, when used
with initial capital letters, refers to the ground at the epicenter of the World
Trade Center attacks.
Guerrilla warfare:
The term was invented to describe the tactics Spain used to
resist Napoleon, although the tactic itself has been around much longer.
Literally, it means “little war.” Guerilla warfare features cells and utilizes
no front line. The oldest form of asymmetric warfare, guerilla warfare is
based on sabotage and ambush with the objective of destabilizing the gov-
ernment through lengthy and low-intensity confrontation.
Hamas:
A radical Islamic organization that operates primarily in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip and whose goal is to establish an Islamic Palestinian state
in place of Israel. On the one hand, Hamas operates overtly in their capac-
ity as social services deliverers, but its activists have also conducted many
attacks, including suicide bombings, against Israeli civilians and military
targets.
Hazard:
An inherent physical or chemical characteristic that has the potential for
causing harm to people, the environment, or property.
Hazard assessment:
The process of evaluating available information about the site
to identify potential hazards that might pose a risk to the site characteriza-
tion team. The hazard assessment results in assigning one of four levels
to risk: lower hazard, radiological hazard, high chemical hazard, or high
biological hazard.
Hemorrhagic fevers:
In general, the term
viral hemorrhagic fever
is used to describe
a severe multisystem syndrome wherein the overall vascular system is dam-
aged and the body becomes unable to regulate itself. These symptoms are
often accompanied by hemorrhage; however, the bleeding itself is not usu-
ally life threatening. Some types of hemorrhagic fever viruses can cause
relatively mild illnesses.
Hizbollah (Hezbollah):
Meaning “the party of God,” Hizbollah is one of many ter-
rorist organizations seeking the destruction of Israel and the United States.
They have taken credit for numerous bombings against civilians and have
declared that civilian targets are warranted. Hizbollah claims it sees no
legitimacy for the existence of Israel, and that their conflict is one of legiti-
macy that is based on religious ideals.
Homicide bombings:
A term the White House coined to replace “suicide bombings.”
Incident:
A confirmed occurrence that requires response actions to prevent or mini-
mize loss of life or damage to property and/or natural resources. A drink-
ing water contamination incident occurs when the presence of a harmful
contaminant has been confirmed.
Inhalation anthrax:
A form of anthrax that is contracted by inhaling anthrax
spores. This results in pneumonia, sometimes meningitis, and finally death.
