Glossary for the Worldwide Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Materials

Book excerpt: What could the following possibly have in common? Accumulator...acid sludge...actuating cartridge...air bag inflator...cut back asphalt...Bangalore torpedo...wet battery...bhusa...blau gas...box toe gum...bursters...copra...dead oil... etching acid...fish meal...fracturing devices... gasohol...gutta percha.. hay... iron swarf...jet tapper... kapok...lithium cartouche...M86 fuel...natural uranium...organotin pesticides...pepper spray...petroleum raffinate...picrotoxin...refrigerant gas...rubber shoddy...safety squib...seed expeller...slurry explosive...tankage...turpentine substitute...uncalcined...varnish drier...wax vesta matches...zinc ash These are some of the vague and confusing regulatory terms that must be used to describe the 3.6 billion metric tons of dangerous chemicals and products transported around the world each year by air, land, and water. In fact, the use of this jargon, mandated by many national and international authorities like the United Nations, makes regulatory compliance and safe transportation extremely uncertain. Existing references provide little help. Even the regulations supply only a limited number of descriptions of the terms. Glossary for the Worldwide Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Materials finally provides accurate, clear explanations of the terms used in worldwide transportation of hazardous materials. Written by a leading environmental and transportation consultant and educator, it is the principal reference for all shippers and transporters involved in the identification of dangerous goods and hazardous materials - the basis of all subsequent transportation requirements.