TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
HARMFUL HEALTH EFFECT [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2026-02-18
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Toxicology
- Effects of Pollution
- Collaboration with Health Canada
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- acute effect
1, record 1, English, acute%20effect
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
In the context of health and environmental science, an acute effect refers to the immediate or short-term impact of exposure to a harmful agent, such as a pollutant or a toxic substance. These effects typically occur shortly after exposure and can be of varying severity, ranging from mild to severe. 2, record 1, English, - acute%20effect
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Toxicologie
- Effets de la pollution
- Collaboration avec Santé Canada
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- effet aigu
1, record 1, French, effet%20aigu
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Un effet aigu correspond à un effet indésirable lié à une exposition courte à des doses élevées de polluant. En général, leur apparition est immédiate et cesse quand il n'y a plus d'exposition. 2, record 1, French, - effet%20aigu
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2004-01-20
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Toxicology
- Pharmacy
- Environmental Studies and Analyses
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- toxicity
1, record 2, English, toxicity
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The quality of exerting deleterious effects on an organism or tissue. 2, record 2, English, - toxicity
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Toxic means able to cause harmful health effects. Toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause harmful health effects. Descriptions of toxicity(e. g. low, moderate, severe, etc.) depend on the amount needed to cause an effect or the severity of the effect. 3, record 2, English, - toxicity
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
In order to achieve therapeutic effects, however, some drugs must be given in amounts that approach the toxic range or that may even reach it for some patients. Accordingly, appropriate observations are needed to detect the approach or onset of toxicity, to reverse it, and to avoid its progression to intolerable proportions. 4, record 2, English, - toxicity
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Toxicologie
- Pharmacie
- Études et analyses environnementales
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- toxicité
1, record 2, French, toxicit%C3%A9
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La toxicité d'un produit médicamenteux quelconque est calculée selon un certain nombre de critères [elle] est définie comme la dose mortelle minimale d'une substance [...] affection due à la présence en quantité excessive dans le sang de substances toxiques. 2, record 2, French, - toxicit%C3%A9
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Peu à peu on arrive à intégrer des doses considérables bien au-dessus du seuil habituel de toxicité. 3, record 2, French, - toxicit%C3%A9
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Toxicología
- Farmacia
- Estudios y análisis del medio ambiente
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- toxicidad
1, record 2, Spanish, toxicidad
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Facultad de una sustancia de dañar los tejidos vivientes cuando alcanza lugares susceptibles del cuerpo. 2, record 2, Spanish, - toxicidad
Record 3 - internal organization data 1989-02-28
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Air Pollution
- Environmental Studies and Analyses
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- air quality criteria
1, record 3, English, air%20quality%20criteria
correct, plural
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- ambient air quality criteria 2, record 3, English, ambient%20air%20quality%20criteria
plural
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Air quality standards set down by the Federal Government involving precise amounts of pollutants and maximum exposure times permissible for good health. The criteria are usually expressed in parts per million(PPM), related to a set number of hours. Air quality criteria are based on the possible harmful effect on humans who may be exposed to these deleterious emissions. 3, record 3, English, - air%20quality%20criteria
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 DEF
As the federal government uses the term, the varying amounts of pollution and lengths of exposure at which specific adverse effects to health and welfare take place. 4, record 3, English, - air%20quality%20criteria
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Pollution de l'air
- Études et analyses environnementales
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- critères de qualité d'air ambiant
1, record 3, French, crit%C3%A8res%20de%20qualit%C3%A9%20d%27air%20ambiant
correct, masculine noun, plural
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Il a été convenu d'appeler critères de qualité d'air ambiant les méthodes expérimentales par lesquelles on pourra établir une corrélation entre la dose d'un polluant (...) et les effets sur la santé. 2, record 3, French, - crit%C3%A8res%20de%20qualit%C3%A9%20d%27air%20ambiant
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Les normes de qualité de l'environnement porteront [en pollution atmosphérique] le nom de normes de qualité d'air ambiant. (...) il s'agit tout d'abord d'établir les critères de qualité d'air ambiant qui sont, pour chacun des polluants (...), l'inventaire de l'ensemble des connaissances de physiopathologie se rapportant à ce polluant, connaissances résultant soit de la poursuite d'essais physiologiques, soit d'études épidémiologiques. Il s'agit ensuite (...) de choisir ceux des effets que l'on pourra tolérer et de fixer la barre en conséquence. 3, record 3, French, - crit%C3%A8res%20de%20qualit%C3%A9%20d%27air%20ambiant
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
"critères" : Eléments, méthodes, épreuves retenus pour déterminer la nature, l'ordre de grandeur et les effets des altéragènes. 3, record 3, French, - crit%C3%A8res%20de%20qualit%C3%A9%20d%27air%20ambiant
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


