A short glossary
Note: You may close the Glossary or keep it open while you work through other parts of this web–CD. You can reshape both browser windows and place them side by side.
0-9
½ life 30°C, 50% RH, weeks
half life, in weeks, at 30°C and 50% relative humidity—a measure of the persistence of the insecticide residue
A
acute toxicity
Immediate (short term) toxic effect
ADI
acceptable daily intake, expressed as mg per kg of bodyweight. Defines the residue hazard for consumers. For a compound to be internationally accepted as a grain protectant, the International Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues reviews data packages on toxicity, effectiveness and residues resulting from use of the compound according to good agricultural practice. The Committee sets an ADI for the compound and maximum residue limits for treated commodities.
admixture
mixing pesticides in with the grain
aeration
the slow passage of air through a bulk of grain, primarily to reduce the grain temperature
aflatoxin
a potent mycotoxin which develops in damp commodities in post-harvest storage or pre-harvest in maize and peanuts
alternariol
a mycotoxin found in weather damaged grain and oilseeds
alternariol monomethyl ether
a mycotoxin found in weather damaged grain and oilseeds
ambient aeration
aeration using normal air
ambient humidity
humidity of the surrounding air ambient temperature temperature of the surrounding environment
AOF
Australian Oilseeds Federation
AQIS
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
ARGT
annual ryegrass toxicity, a potentially fatal disease in sheep grazing on infected annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)
Auger
Auger conveyors, sometimes called screw conveyors, are the most common method of handling grain on farms.
auger pitch
the distance between corresponding points on consecutive turns of the auger flighting
Aw (water activity)
the ratio of the vapour pressure of water in a product to the vapour pressure of pure water at the same temperature. Aw and ERH are numerically equivalent,but Aw is expressed as a fraction and ERH as a percentage.
B
bin-burnt grains
heat damage caused by poor storage conditions
black point
darkening of the germ end of the grain due to fungal infection or chemical change
bunt of wheat
Common bunt and loose smut are fungal diseases of wheat seed in which part or all of the grain is replaced by black smelly spores. Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) is not present in Australia and is an object of quarantine.
C
calibrated
adjusted to be accurate when using samples of a known amount
canola
a type of oilseed rape developed for human consumption
CBHWA
Central Bulk Handling Western Australia
choke length
2 pitch lengths on auger
chronic toxicity
long-term toxic effect
Codex
The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a United Nations Organisation which sets internationally agreed general food standards. Codex limits for additives,
pesticides and other contaminants must not be exceeded in commodities in international trade. http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/economic/esn/codex/default.htm
combined negative/positive pressure
suck/blow or pull/push
comingling
mixing together
corrective action procedure (see HACCP)
pre-determined and documented set of corrective actions which are implemented when a deviation occurs (eg discard the commodity affected)
critical control point (see HACCP)
a point, step or procedure at which control measures can be applied and a food safety hazard can be prevented
critical limit (see HACCP)
a criterion which separates acceptability from unacceptability
CSG
NACMA commodity standards (grains)
CSO
NACMA commodity standards (oilseeds)
CSP
NACMA commodity standards (pulses)
D
dark discoloration
staining due to fungi
deviation (see HACCP)
failure to meet required critical limits
DON
a mycotoxin occurring in pre-harvest grains attacked by some Fusarium spp fungi
dry bulb temperature
normal temperature, measured with a dry bulb thermometer (see also wet bulb temperature)
E
ECO2FUME
a 2% mixture of phosphine in carbon dioxide
ELISA
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: a method of detecting substances by binding to specific antibodies and producing a colour reaction
ergot
a type of fungal damaged grain
ERH
equilibrium relative humidity: the degree of saturation of the air with water falling number provides an indication of weather damage or alpha amylase activity in grain. Low
falling numbers indicate high enzyme activity which is associated with high levels of weather damage.
F
FFA
free fatty acid (results from breakdown of oils and fats)
FMCA
Flour Millers Council of Australia
frost-affected grains
distorted grains which may appear blue/grey
fumigant
a toxic gas or volatile liquid used to disinfest commodities or structures
fumigation
the process of killing insects in grain or structures using a toxic gas or vapour
fumonisin
a mycotoxin of pre-harvest maize caused by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme fungi moulds
G
g
gram or grams
GLC
gas-liquid chromatography: a method of analysis of food constituents and contaminants
grain hygiene
the maintenance of zero or low levels of contaminants (residues, toxins) in grain grain protectant group of insecticides used to protect grain in storage. The grain protectants have post harvest MRLs. No other insecticides must be used as grain protectants.
H
HACCP
Hazard Analysis By Critical Control Points is a planned method of quality assurance specifically directed at the control of food borne hazards. The HACCP system was initiated in the USA, later developed by a Codex Alimentarius Working Group, and the principles embodied in the HACCP approach are being adopted in many countries. A HACCP approach can be adopted at an industry or enterprise level. There are several broad areas of concern that require analysis, the results of which provide the basis of a HACCP Plan for the operation; the
areas of concern are listed in HACCP implementation—Prerequisite programs .
There are eight steps in developing a HACCP Plan:
1. Construct process Flow Diagram
2. List hazards associated with each step
3. Apply HACCP decision tree to determine CCP
4. Establish critical limit
5. Establish monitoring procedures
6. Establish deviation procedures
7. Establish verification procedures
8. Establish record keeping/documentation.
(Click here for a more detailed explanation of these steps .)
half life 30°C, 50% RH, weeks
half life, in weeks, at 30°C and 50% relative humidity—a measure of the persistence of the insecticide residue
hazard
the potential to cause harm: a biological, chemical or physical property that may cause food to be unsafe for human consumption or may lead to the deterioration of an edible commodity
HPLC
high performance liquid chromatography: a method of analysis of food constituents and contaminants
I
intergranular air
the air between grains
K
kg/hl
kilograms per hectolitre
L
larva(e)
mobile pre-adult insect stage
LD50
lethal dose 50: the dose in mg of toxin per kg of bodyweight which would kill 50% of a population of test animals. Defines the acute toxic hazard for handlers of the chemical.
life cycle (insect)
development egg–larva–pupa–adult, which takes about 25 days
M
m/s, m/sec
metres per second
m³/h
cubic metres per hour
manometer
instrument which measures pressure
mg/kg
milligrams (thousandths of a gram) per kilogram
mm
millimetres
moisture content
the amount of water in a given mass of grain expressed as a percentage of the whole grain
moisture migration in storage
moisture movement in grain caused by day–night variation in temperature or by insect infestation and may result in condensation occurring at the grain peak
monitoring
1. the act of conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements of control parameters in a HACCP analysis
2. checking
MPC
maximum permitted concentration in food of a natural or synthetic contaminant
MRL
permitted maximum residue level set at a national or international level. Usually applies to residues of crop protectant chemicals. International (Codex) limits for pesticides and other contaminants must not be exceeded in commodities in international trade.
mycotoxins
toxins produced by fungi which typically cause liver damage or damage to the immune system and may cause cancer
N
NACMA
National Australian Commodities Marketing Association. The NACMA standards are given in commodity information under the appropriate commodity.
negative pressure
suction or vacuum
ng/kg-bw
nanograms per kilogram body weight (1ng = 10-9 grams)
nil-tolerance standard
an outturn standard stipulating no detectable live insects in a commodity
NIR
near infrared reflectance
NIT
near infrared transmittance
O
ochratoxin
a potent mycotoxin which is formed in damp grain in storage, especially in cool conditions
organic grain
grain which has been grown and stored without the use of synthetic crop protection chemicals
outturn standards
standards applied by marketers for grain outurned from storage to transport and processing
P
Pa
Pascal, a measure of pressure
1kPa is 1000 Pa
1mmHg = 133.3Pa
PA
pyrollizidine alkaloid. A group of highly toxic chemicals found in the seeds of some common weeds (common heliotrope, Pattersons curse).
phomopsin
a commonly occurring mycotoxin of lupins
phosphine
currently the only toxic gas available for disinfesting grain on-farm
phostoxin
a formulation of aluminium phosphide which produces phosphine when exposed to air. Similar formulations are Gastion, Celphos, Quickphos, Detia etc.
pink discolouration
a discolouration of grain caused by some species of Fusarium and Drechslera
positive pressure
blowing or pushing
ppb
parts per billion. 1 ppb = 1 ng/g or 1 ug/kg (microgram, that is, millionth of a gram, per kilogram)
ppm
parts per million. 1ppm = 1 ug/g or 1 mg/kg
PRF
pesticide residue-free grain, a definition for grain which has been grown with normal pesticide use, but stored without the use of post-harvest pesticides psychrometric chart
a chart which is used to determine the suitability of the air for cooling, given the grain and air temperatures and humidities
PTWI
provisional tolerable weekly intake: an internationally agreed limit for a level of contaminant in a diet. Similar to an ADI.
pulse
grain legume
pupa(e)
insect stage, not usually mobile, e.g coccooned stage
Q
Quality Farms Australia
an organisation recently formed for the specific purpose of encouraging the development of practical QA systems for the farming sector
R
Resistance
the development of insect strains which can survive doses of insecticide or fumigant which would kill non-resistant strains
respirator
protective face mask
retro-sealing
converting an unsealed silo into a sealed one after construction
risk
an estimate of the likely occurrence of a hazard (how often?)
S
SACBH
South Australian Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd
safe moisture content
the moisture level in commodities which is equivalent to an ERH of 65-70% and at which fungi cannot grow on the commodity
screenings
total material passing through the screen
segregation
separate storage of different types or grades of grain
severity
an estimate of the seriousness (potential for damage) of a hazard
significance
the significance of a hazard is determined by combining risk and severity
SIROFLO
a method for fumigation in silos which cannot be fully sealed, in which a low concentration of phosphine gas is passed continually through the grain specific capacity t/kwh (tonnes per kilowatt hour)
sprouted grains
grains in which the germ covering has split open and the root has emerged
STEL
short term exposure limit: the maximum level of a toxic gas (fumigant) which can be tolerated for a short period defined as 15 minutes
T
T2-toxin
a mycotoxin occurring in grains and fodder due to the growth of some Fusarium species
tenuazonic acid
a mycotoxin found in weather damaged grain and oilseeds
thorax
insect body section between head and abdomen
tolerances
maximum allowable limits
TWA-TLV
the maximum level of a toxic gas (fumigant) which can be tolerated for continuous exposure in the workplace
U
um
micron (1 millionth of a metre)
V
verification
methods, procedures or tests used to determine whether the HACCP system is in compliance with the HACCP plan, and whether the HACCP plan needs modification
volumetric
determination of a quantity by volume
W
water activity (Aw)
the ratio of the vapour pressure of water in a product to the vapour pressure of pure water at the same temperature
wet bulb temperature
the temperature given by the wet bulb of a wet and dry bulb thermometer which, when compared with the dry bulb temperature, is used to calculate the air humidity
Z
zearelenone
a mycotoxin occurring in grains due to the growth of some Fusarium species
Note: You may close the Glossary or keep it open while you work through other parts of this web–CD. You can reshape both browser windows and place them side by side.
