APPENDIX 7: ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY
Acronyms
BASF BASF chemical company
BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
BRASS Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability,
Sustainability and Society
BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
COT Committee on Toxicity
COM Committee on Mutagenicity
COC Committee on Carcinogenicity
CSL Central Science Laboratory (now part of the
Food and
Environment Research Agency)
CST Council for Science and Technology
DEFRA Department for the Environment, Food and
Agriculture
DG SANCO Directorate General for Health and Consumer
Affairs
DH Department of Health
DIUS Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills (now known as BIS)
DWP Department for Work and Pensions
EFSA European Food Safety Authority
EHS Environmental, Health and Safety
ENM Engineered NanoMaterials
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council
EU European Union
FAIA Food Additives and Ingredients Association
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation
FDA Food and Drink Administration
FDF Food and Drink Federation
FSA Food Standards Agency
GI Gastro-intestinal tract
GM Genetically Modified
GRAS Generally Regarded As Safe
HARN High Aspect Ratio Nanoparticles
IFR Institute of Food Research
IFST Institute of Food Science and Technology
ISO International Organization for Standardization
LFI Leatherhead Food International
MMR Measles, Mumps and Rubella
MRC Medical Research Council
MRCHNR MRC Collaborative Centre for Human Nutrition
Research
nanoKTN Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network
NEG Nanotechnology Engagement Group
NERC Natural Environment Research Council
NGO Non-governmental Organisations
NIA Nanotechnology Industries Association
NRCG Nanotechnology Research Coordination Group
OECD Organisations for Economic Co-operation
and Development
RAEng Royal Academy of Engineering
RCEP Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
RCUK Research Councils UK
REACH Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation
and restriction of CHemicals
RO Research Objective
RS Royal Society
RSC Royal Society of Chemistry
SCCP Scientific Committee on Consumer Products
SCENIHR Scientific Committee on Emerging and
Newly Identified Health Risks
TEC Transatlantic Economic Council
TSB Technology Strategy Board
UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme
UK United Kingdom
US United States
VC Venture Capitalists
WHO World Health Organisation
WWC Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars
Glossary
Aggregation The creation of larger particles
by a number of smaller ones by mutual attraction via physical
forces; this happens more easily for nanosized particles than
for larger ones.
Agglomeration The creation of larger particles
by a number of smaller ones by mutual attraction via chemical
forces; this happens more easily for nanosized particles than
for larger ones.
Anti-microbial A substance that either kills
or slows the growth of microbes.
Barrier property The ability of packaging materials
to prevent the passage of gas, liquids and other permeable substances.
Bioscience Any science dealing with the structure
and behaviour of living organisms.
Biotechnology Any technological application
of biological organisms or substances for a specific use.
Cell membrane The outer covering of a cell which
controls the exchange of substances between the cell and its surroundings.
Characterisation The use of external techniques
to probe into the internal structure and properties of a material.
Co-enzyme Q10 A vitamin-like substance present
in cells which is available as a dietary supplement.
Emulsion A mixture of two liquids which do not
mix, where one is dispersed in the other in the form of fine droplets.
Flora Bacteria and other microorganisms that
normally live on or within the body.
Gastro-intestinal tract The digestive system
or "gut".
Inflammation The reaction of tissues to irritation,
injury or infection, which tries to destroy or remove the injurious
agent and initiate the healing process.
Insoluble material A substance that cannot be
dissolved.
In vivo Experimentation using living organisms,
for example animal testing.
Lymphatic vessels A network of thin-walled vessels
that carry lymph (a protein-rich fluid containing white blood
cells) throughout the body.
Macroscopic particles Particles large enough
to be seen by the unaided eye.
Nanoencapsulation The coating or enclosing of
a substance, as if within a capsule, within another material at
the nanoscale level.
Nanometrology The science of measurement at
the nanoscale level.
Nanotoxicology The study of the nature, effects
and detection of harmful nanoscale substances on living organisms.
Toxicodynamics The mechanisms by which toxins
are absorbed, distributed, metabolised or excreted by the body.
Toxin A poisonous substance produced by living
cells or organisms.
Translocation The transport of a substance from
one location in the body to another.
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