Table 1.

Common Terminology of Environmental Exposures

Term	Definition
Body burden	The amount of natural and man-made toxins that accumulate by contact, inhalation, and ingestion over the lifetime of a person
Carcinogen	Cancer-causing agent
Developmental/reproductive toxicant	Chemicals that damage developing fetus, child, or reproductive system
Endocrine disrupter	Chemicals that specially alter normal hormone function
Mutagen	Chemical that can cause mutations in DNA
Neurotoxin	Chemicals that specifically damage neurons within the central or peripheral nervous system
Teratogen	Chemicals that cause birth defects
Toxin	A naturally occurring poison
Toxicant	A man-made poison
Xenobiotic	Any foreign chemical or compound in the body