EC
European Community.

Ecological Impact
The effect that a man-made or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment.

Ecological Indicator
A characteristic of the environment that, when measured, quantifies magnitude of stress, habitat characteristics, degree of exposure to a stressor, or ecological response to exposure. The term is a collective term for response, exposure. The term is a collective term for response, exposure, habitat, and stressor indicators.

Ecology
The relationship of living things to one another and their environment, or the study of such relationships.

Ecosystem
The interacting system of a biological community and its non-living environmental surroundings.

Effluent
Wastewater-treated or untreated-that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes discharged into surface waters.

Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP)
A device that removes particles from a gas stream (smoke) after combustion occurs. The ESP imparts an electrical charge to the particles, causing them to adhere to metal plates inside the precipitator. Rapping on the plates causes the particles to fall into a hopper for disposal.

Emission Factor
The relationship between the amount of pollution produced and the amount of raw material processed.

Emission Inventory
A listing, by source, of the amount of air pollutants discharged into the atmosphere of a community; used to establish emission standards.

Emission Standard
The maximum amount of air polluting discharge legally allowed from a single source, mobile or stationary.

Emission
Pollution discharged into the atmosphere from stacks, other vents, and surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities; from residential chimneys; and from motor vehicle, locomotive, or aircraft exhausts.

Emissions Trading
The creation of surplus emission reductions at certain stacks, vents or similar emissions sources and the use of this surplus to meet or redefine pollution requirements applicable to other emissions sources.

EN 1948
European Standard method for sampling and measuring dioxin and furan releases to atmosphere.

EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000
The European Standard for the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration organisations.

Epidemiology
Study of the distribution of disease, or other health-related states and events in human populations, as related to age, sex, occupation, ethnic, and economic status in order to identify and alleviate health problems and promote better health.

Episode (Pollution)
An air pollution incident in a given area caused by a concentration of atmospheric pollutants under meteorological conditions that may result in a significant increase in illnesses or deaths. May also describe water pollution events or hazardous material spills.

Equivalent Method
Any method of sampling and analysis which has been demonstrated to the relevant regulators satisfaction to be, under specific conditions, an acceptable alternative to normally used reference methods.

Evidence
Documentation to prove or support a fact or experience.

Exceedance
A measured quantity that is greater than an allowed limit.

Explosive Limit
The amounts of vapour in the air that form explosive mixtures; limits are expressed as lower and upper limits and give the range of vapour concentrations in air that will explode if an ignition source is present.

Extractive Monitoring
Measurement made on a sample that is taken from a stream or flow.