Glossary

Decode the eco-speak with our friendly glossary list of green buzzwords and certifications.

Monoethanolamine (MEA) (also ethanolamine and 2-aminoethanol): Contact with MEA causes severe eye and skin burns, and inhalation irritates eyes, skin and respiratory systems and may cause asthma. Ingestion can cause central nervous system depression, increased blood pressure, sedation, coma, and death.
Methane: A greenhouse gas which stays in the atmosphere for nine to 15 years. It is efficient in trapping heat and is one of the primary sources of natural gas. It serves as a primary energy source. Methane is emitted by humans mainly through fossil fuel production and waste management.
Mad Cow Disease: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or Mad Cow Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. Consuming beef infected with BSE may transmit the disease to humans. In humans, the condition is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Mercury: A naturally occurring element from the Earth’s crust found in air, water and soil. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune system of humans.
Mold: Mold lives in soils, plants, and moist matter. It produces allergens, irritants, and in some cases, toxins, known as mycotoxins, that may cause reactions in humans if exposure occurs. One known mycotoxin is flatoxin.