Green Glossary – D
- Daylighting
- A practice in urban design and urban planning, daylighting involves redirecting a stream into an above-ground channel to restore the flow of water to a more natural state.
- DDT
- DDT is a synthetic pesticide that became widely used in the 1940's until it was banned by the U.S. in 1973 due to the discovery of how highly toxic it was to fish and water supplies.
- Deciduous Forest
- A type of forest in which the dominant species of trees and other woody vegetation are those species that shed their leaves during the cold months of the year and re-grows new leaves the next spring in time for the growing season.
- Decontamination
- Procedures that remove foreign substances such as contaminants, pollutants, toxins and radioactivity. Decontamination does not eliminate microorganisms but is a necessary step before disinfection, sterilization or environmental clean up.
- DEET
- DEET is a chemical (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) used as the active ingredient in many insect repellent products. Approximately 230 products containing DEET are currently registered with the EPA as the substance can become toxic in certain dosages.
- Deforestation
- The large-scale destruction of trees in forests which eventually damage the quality of land and soil in the area.
- Desalination
- The process of treating sea water via reverse osmosis in order to make it suitable for drinking. Desalination is a solution to fresh water shortage typical in tropical as well as off-shore areas.
- Desert
- A type of biome that is characterized by climactic extremes. Desert lands are usually dry and hot but they are also prone to sudden flash floods and cold nights. Generally, however, deserts are extremely dry areas that get less than 10 inches of rain each year on average.
- Dewatering
- Removal of water from solid waste and sludge via mechanical or thermal means. Dewatering can remove harmful toxins and chemicals from solid materials such as trash, waste and soil.
- Diazinon
- Diazinon is a chemical pesticide used against cockroaches, ants, fleas and silverfish usually applied in homes and buildings.
- Diesel Particulate Matter or DPM
- As defined by US EPA regulations and sampling procedures, diesel particulate matter is a complex aggregate of solid and liquid material.
- Dioxin
- A highly toxic herbicide whose use is regulated at 0.1 parts per million or less.
- Dispersion
- In the study of air pollution, dispersion is a crucial factor as it is the movement and direction of where air contaminants are spread.
- Dissolution
- The process wherein water-soluble compounds in an oil dissolves into the surrounding water. Dissolution rates are observed and considered during oil spill remediation.
- Distillation
- A water purification process that uses heat to vaporize water and separate it from contaminants and other undesirable elements found in ground and surface water.
- Dominant Species
- One or a few species that are most numerous in a specific natural environment. Dominant species are usually plant life that reflect the characteristics of a given area--soil type, water type, climactic conditions, etc.
- Downcycling
- Turning waste material or unused products into new materials or new products--but of lesser quality and functionality. Some experts say, technically, all recycling is downcycling.
- Dredging
- A type of excavation fishing where a net is attached to a frame that's dragged along the ocean floor to collect clams, crabs and other edible marine animals.
- Dry Mill
- An ethanol production procedure in which the entire corn kernel is first ground into flour before processing.
- Drylands
- Ecosystems characterized by minimal water. Examples include cultivated lands, scrublands, shrublands, grasslands, savannas and semi-deserts.
- Duckweed
- Small, free-floating stemless plants that thrive on the surface of still or slow-moving water, looking like a "carpeting" of tiny leaf clusters.
- Dumpster Diving
- The practice of looking through residential or commercial garbage to find items that can be of use to the dumpster diver. In the UK, this is known as skipping or bin-diving.
- Dust Pollution
- Airborne particles that contaminate indoor or outdoor environments, affecting healthy breathing and creating dirt wherever they settle.
- Dustmites
- House dustmites are a common indoor air pollutant. They are microscopic, spider-like organisms that live in beds, carpets and other soft furnishings.
