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Packaging
Any material which contains food or other products, and is used to transport,
protect, and provide information about those contents.
Particulates (Particulate matter)
Tiny pieces of solid or liquid matter that float in the air. Particulates
come from smoke, dust, ash and vapours, and can cause serious health
problems.
Pesticides
Chemicals used when growing plants and crops, to kill unwanted insects,
weeds and other pests.
PET
A type of plastic - Polyethylene terephthalate – used to make containers
like soft drink and water bottles.
Petrochemicals
Chemicals derived from petroleum, which are often used to make plastics.
Petrol
The name given in Australia to motor fuel, which is a petroleum product.
Petroleum
Crude oil and any products derived from crude oil that are liquids at
normal temperature and pressure, eg motor fuel, jet oil, and lubricants.
Phosphates
Certain chemical compounds containing phosphorous. Phosphates are often
used in detergents and fertilisers.
Phosphorous
An essential chemical food element. Increased phosphorous levels caused
by fertilisers and detergents washing into lakes and rivers can result
in algae growth, killing fish and water plants.
Photochemical smog
A colourless air pollution that occurs mostly in summer. It is produced
when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and organic compounds (produced
by burning fossil fuels) react with sunlight in the atmosphere to form
a gas called ozone.
Photovoltaic cell
A device which converts sunlight directly into electricity.
Plantation
Trees that are grown for harvesting.
Plastics
Compounds made from chains of polymers, which can be moulded into rigid
or pliable materials, for packaging, construction, fabrics, etc.
Polymer
Long chained molecules made up of many smaller units, repeated many
times. These units are often a combination of carbon and hydrogen, along
with other elements added to change the properties of the polymer.
Population
A group of interbreeding organisms (members of the same species) that
live in a particular area.
Pot-holing
Burying food waste in holes in the ground, where it breaks down, returning
nutrients to the soil.
Precious metals
Name given to gold, silver and platinum.
Precipitation
Rain, snow, sleet or hail that falls to, or condenses on, the ground.
Predator
An animal that naturally preys on other animals for food.
Primary consumer
Animals that eat producers (plants).
Producers
Plants that perform photosynthesis to make their own food, and provide
food to consumers
Pulp
A mushy mass of fibres from rags, wood or recycled paper, which is used
to make paper and cardboard.
PVC
A type of plastic - polyvinyl chloride – used to make containers such
as juice bottles and food trays.
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