Glossary of Terms - April 2003

The following terms are found throughout this issue of COLUMNS-Mold. The definitions are from the 1995 edition of Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary unless otherwise stated.

acute: having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course <~ disease> - compare insidious and chronic

alergenic:: having the capacity to induce allergy (~plants)

anthropogenic: of, relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature <~ pollutants> [http://www.m-w.com]

antigen: a substance capable of stimulating an immune response

bioactive: having an effect on a living organism <~ pharmaceuticals and pesticides> - bioactivity

chronic: having a slow …