Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Site characterization:
The process of collecting information from an investigation
site in order to support the evaluation of a drinking water contamination
threat. Site characterization activities include the site investigation, field
safety screening, rapid field testing of the water, and sample collection.
Sleeper cell:
A small cell that keeps itself undetected until such time as they can
“awaken” and cause havoc.
Smallpox:
The first biological weapon, smallpox was used during the 18th century,
and it killed 300 million people in the 19th century. There is no specific treat-
ment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination. This cur-
rently poses a problem, because the vaccine was discontinued in 1970 and the
World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated. Incubation
is 7 to 17 days, during which the carrier is not contagious. Thirty percent of
people exposed become infected, and smallpox has a 30% mortality rate.
Sociopath:
Basically synonymous with psychopath. Sociopathic symptoms in the
adult sociopath include an inability to tolerate delay or frustration, a lack of
guilt feelings, a relative lack of anxiety, a lack of compassion for others, a
hypersensitivity to personal ills, and a lack of responsibility. Many authors
prefer use of the term sociopath rather than psychopath because this type of
person has had defective socialization and a deficient childhood.
Sociopathic:
Of, relating to, or characterized by asocial or antisocial behavior or a
psychopathic personality.
Spore:
An asexual, usually single-celled reproductive body of plants such as fungi,
mosses, or ferns; a microorganism, such as a bacterium, in a resting or
dormant state.
Terrorist group:
A group that practices or has significant elements involved in
terrorism.
Threat:
An indication that a harmful incident, such as contamination of the drink-
ing water supply, may have occurred. The threat may be direct, such as
a verbal or written threat, or circumstantial, such as a security breach or
unusual water quality.
Toxin:
A poisonous substance produced by living organisms that is capable of caus-
ing disease when introduced into body tissues.
Transponder:
A device on an airliner that sends out a signal allowing air traffic
controllers to track the airplane. Transponders were disabled in some of the
planes highjacked on 9/11.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
An agency created by the Patriot
Act of 2001 for the purpose of overseeing technology and security in
American airports.
Tularemia:
An infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium,
Francisella tular-
ensis
, found in animals, especially rabbits, hares, and rodents. Symptoms
depend on how the person was exposed to tularemia but can include dif-
ficulty breathing, chest pain, bloody sputum, swollen and painful lymph
glands, ulcers on the mouth or skin, swollen and painful eyes, and sore
throat. Symptoms usually appear from 3 to 5 days after exposures but
sometimes will take up to 2 weeks. Tularemia is not spread from person to
person, so people who have it need not be isolated.
