Terminology

ARI: acute respiratory infections
CFC: chlorofluorocarbons
DDT: dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane – a chlorinated organic insecticide that persists for a longtime in the environment. It is disastrously toxic to birds, and is thought to cause cancer in humans.
DHF: dengue hemorrhagic fever
FRESH: Focusing Resources on Effective School Health
JE: Japanese encephalitis
ODS: ozone depleting substances
PAH: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PCBs: Polychlorinated biphenyls. A group of organic compounds that persist in the environment for long periods of time, and are known as bioaccumulants.
PM10: Small particles of diameter less than 10 microns
POPs: persistent organic pollutants
PVC: polyvinyl chloride. A type of plastic.
SSHE: School Sanitation and Hygiene Education

Organizations / bodies

CEHN: Children’s Environmental Health Network
ECOSOC: United Nations Economic and Social Council
FAO: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPF: Intergovernmental Panel on Forests
NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council
UCIRI: Union of Indian Communities of the Isthmus Region
UNAIDS: The joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNCBD: United Nations Convention in Biological Diversity
UNCED: United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (also known as “The Earth Summit”)
UNCHS: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) [now called UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)]
UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFF: United Nations Forum on Forests
UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund
UN/CCD: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
USEPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency
WHO: World Health Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WRI: World Resources Institute

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