Substance and pollutant


Surf cleaning

Updated on 04/12/2018
Définition
Sens commun
Beach cleaning consisting of moving hydrocarbon-contaminated coastal sediments into the surf zone for their natural washing by the waves. The pollutant, which agglutinates on the surface behind the sediments, is then recovered with catching nets.
Source
according to the Commission for Enrichment of the French Language

Ballast water

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun
Water contained in large tanks that can correct the trim of the boat and its balance. Ballast water is a problem during the emptying of the tank (deballasting) because species living in one part of the world are released into another zone, creating ecological disturbances. With the growth of international trade, and especially transoceanic maritime transport, problems arise because of this contribution of living organisms foreign to the local environment. Now, biological and chemical treatment systems must treat these volumes of water to limit the exchange of invasive species.
Source
according to ASTEE

Water Law of 16 December 1964

Updated on 26/10/2022
Définition
Sens réglementaire
It aims to cope with the evolution of demography, industrial development and the growing pollution problems they generate, the first law enabling institutional, financial and technical conditions for global and decentralised water resources management. It thus establishes a management logic according to major river basins (and not according to an administrative logic); sets up, in each basin, a basin committee in charge of drafting the water management policy, and a water agency (or financial basin agency), in charge of implementing this policy; and establishes a National Water Committee (NWC), an advisory body for the Prime Minister. The law of 16 December 1964 imposes, with its goal of pollution control, the making of a national inventory to establish the degree of pollution (INP) of surface water and the definition of objectives for quality improvement. It has been repealed for codification in the environment code.
Source
according to OFB

Phosphates

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens technique
Organophosphorus compounds derived from phosphoric acid. Phosphates are used in agriculture as fertilisers. Emissions of large quantities of phosphates are released into the environment by mining. Phosphates have a lot of effects on organisms. Indeed, increasing phosphorus levels in surface water increases the growth of phosphate-dependent organisms, such as algae and duckweed. Water then becomes rather unlivable for other organisms. This phenomenon is called eutrophication.
Source
according to Wikipedia

Microbial eco-toxicology

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun
Science that studies the ecological consequences of physical, chemical pollution   or biological, regarding microbial communities, and the many functions they perform in ecosystems, as well as the   role   of & nbsp; microorganisms   in & nbsp; the   dynamics   of   pollutants   (source,   transfer,   degradation, transformation). Microbial eco-toxicology (Ecotoxicomic) is an emerging science that responds to a strong political and societal demand in relation to environmental concerns (pollution removal, indicators of the status of an ecosystem) and public health.
Source
according to CNRS

Organic micropollutant

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun

Organic active ingredient, usually synthesized by the chemical industry, whose accumulation, even at low concentrations, can be toxic. The main organic micropollutants controlled are volatile organic compounds (VOC), hydrocarbons, andpolychlorinated biphenyl(PCB).

Source
According to Seine-Normandie Water Agency

Mineral micropollutant

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun

Mineral active product, mainly metals or metalloids, whose accumulation, even at low concentrations, affects the environment and organisms. The main mineral micro pollutants controlled (from both natural and anthropical occurrence) are cadmium, mercury, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel, lead, etc.

Source
According to Seine-Normandie Water Agency

Macropollutants

Updated on 25/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun

All the suspended material in water, organic matter or nutrients, such as nitrogen or phosphate. They may occur naturally in water but their concentration increases with human activities (wastewater discharge, agriculture...). In contrast to micropollutants, which are toxic even at low concentration, macropolluants requires higher content to cause bad effects.

Source
According to SOeS

Green algae

Updated on 27/02/2019
Définition
Sens commun

Chlorophyllous aquatic plant having no leaves, no roots, no vessels, no flowers, no seeds, whose main photosynthetic pigments are chlorophylls a and b. As the name suggests, they are usually green in color.

Source
d'après dictionnaire Larousse
Sens technique

Algae phylum whose sometimes exclusive major pigment is chlorophyll β, associated with carotene and xanthophyll. Their only reproductive organs are sporocysts and gametocysts. Their plastids elaborate starch as in the Phanerogamous. It includes three classes: Chlorophyceae, Zygophyceae and Charophyceae.

Source
d'après dictionnaire encyclopédique des sciences de la nature et de la biodiversité

Underground disposal

Updated on 06/09/2018
Définition
Sens commun
Discharge of effluents or pollutants on the ground or infiltration into the subsoil.
Source
according to the Ministry of the Environment and BRGM