INSTITUT Veolia Environnement

Report n°4: How Much to Spend for the Protection of Health and Environment

Glossary and Nomenclature

As = arsenic

CBA = cost-benefit analysis

CO = carbon monoxide

CO2eq = quantity of a greenhouse gas expressed as equivalent quantity of CO2, using the GWP of the gas

Cr-VI = chromium in oxidation state 6

CRF = concentration-response function

CV = contingent valuation

Discount rate = rate r that allows comparison of monetary values incurred at different times, defined such that an amount Pn in year n has the same utility as an amount P0 = Pn (1+r)-n in year 0.

DRF = dose-response function

EC = European Commission

EPA = Environmental Protection Agency of USA

External costs = costs that arise when the social or economic activities of one group of people have an impact on another for which the first group does not fully account, e.g when a polluter does not compensate others for the damage imposed on them.

GWP = global warming potential

Hg = mercury

IPA = impact pathway analysis

ISC = Industrial Source Complex gaussian plume dispersion model

LCA = life cycle assessment

MCA = multicriteria analysis

N = nitrogen

Ni = nickel

NOx = unspecified mixture of NO and NO2 

O3 = ozone

PAH = polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Pb = lead

PMd = particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than d mm

S = sulfur

sCR = slope of concentration-response function [cases/(person·yr·µg/m3)]

SOx = unspecified mixture of SO2 and SO3 

UWM = uniform world model (for simplified estimation of damage costs)

vdep = deposition velocity [m/s]

VOC = volatile organic compounds.

VOLY = value of a life year

VSL = "value of statistical life"

WTP = willingness to pay

YOLL = years of life lost (reduction of life expectancy)