EarthWord–Fugitive
USGS EarthWord of the Week
“Whatcha gonna do when they come for you”-thinks this week’s EarthWord...
EarthWords is an on-going series in which we shed some light on the complicated, often difficult-to-pronounce language of science. Think of us as your terminology tour-guides, and meet us back here every week for a new word!
The EarthWord: Fugitive
Definition:
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Although it’s unlikely to call the Law down upon it, fugitive in the scientific sense is pretty close to the legal sense--it means something that has escaped or migrated outside of where it was meant to be.
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It’s most often applied to chemicals that escape a container of some kind.
Etymology:
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Fugitive comes from the Latin fugitivus, which meant “runaway” or “missing.”
Use/Significance in the Earth Science Community:
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Fugitive contaminants are a serious issue in the world of toxicology and environmental health science. Chemical spills from pipelines or other transportation methods, catchment ponds, wells, or other types of infrastructure are a major pathway for contaminants to enter the environment.
USGS Use:
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USGS studies many different types of fugitive contaminants as part of its Environmental Health science.
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Studies have included using remote sensing to detect fugitive contaminants at a Superfund site; evaluating potential risks and hazards from fugitive dust from an Alaskan mine; and studying stray gas migrating into groundwater.
Next EarthWord: Although it sounds like a Batman punch, this #EarthWord is closer to the Bat than you’d think...
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