Chemicals: A substance formed by combining two or more atoms in a specific ratio and structure. For instance, water is a chemical composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, with a chemical formula of H2O. The term “chemical” can also be used as an adjective to describe the properties of substances resulting from different compound reactions.
Evaporate: The transition from a liquid state to a gaseous state.
Humidity: A measurement of the water vapor present in the atmosphere. (Air containing a high level of water vapor is considered humid.)
Irrigation: Water supplied through artificial means (such as pipes, channels, sprinklers, etc.) to facilitate plant growth during periods of dryness.
Leach: (in geology and chemistry) The process in which water, often in the form of rain, extracts soluble minerals and other substances from solids like rocks or from sand, soil, bones, waste, and ashes.
Contaminants: Substances that pollute the air, water, human body, or products. Pollutants can be chemicals (such as pesticides) or radiation (like excess heat or light). Weeds and other invasive species can also be considered forms of biological pollution.
Rock wool: A fibrous material created by melting rocks like basalt and spinning them into fibers. Due to its flame-retardant properties, rock wool is commonly used for fire insulation in buildings, electronic devices, ovens, etc.
Spill: Rainwater flowing off land into rivers, lakes, and oceans, picking up dirt and chemicals from the soil along the way, eventually depositing them as pollutants in water bodies.
Sustainable: (noun: sustainability) An adjective denoting the utilization of resources in a manner that ensures their availability for a long period in the future.
System: A network of interconnected parts operating together to achieve a specific function. Examples include the circulatory system in the human body (composed of blood, blood vessels, and the heart) and a country’s rail system (comprising trains, tracks, platforms, signals, and overpasses).
Toxicologist: A scientist who studies potential harm caused by environmental physical agents, including substances intentionally exposed to humans like chemicals, tobacco smoke, and food, as well as involuntary exposures to air and water pollutants. Toxicologists assess the risks associated with such exposures, how they cause harm, and how they circulate in the environment.
England: A land mass encompassing four “countries” – England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Over 80% of the UK’s population resides in England. There is ongoing debate among individuals, including UK residents, regarding whether the UK should be regarded as a single country or a union of four distinct countries. The United Nations and most foreign governments treat the UK as a unified nation.
Source: www.snexplores.org
