What is the term for the degree or extent to which a chemical or substance is poisonous?

What is the term for the degree or extent to which a chemical or substance is poisonous?

• A. Exposure
• B. Hazard
• C. Persistence
• D. Toxicity

Answer: (D)

The degree to which a chemical is poisonous is called its toxicity. Toxicity is an inherent property of a substance—the potential to cause harm at a given dose. It’s different from exposure, which is about how much contact a person or organism has with the chemical; and from hazard, which combines toxicity with the likelihood of exposure in real situations. Persistence refers to how long the chemical remains active in the environment. So even a highly toxic substance can pose less hazard if exposure is minimal and proper safety measures are used; conversely, a less toxic chemical can be riskier if exposure is high.

The degree to which a chemical is poisonous is called its toxicity. Toxicity is an inherent property of a substance—the potential to cause harm at a given dose. It’s different from exposure, which is about how much contact a person or organism has with the chemical; and from hazard, which combines toxicity with the likelihood of exposure in real situations. Persistence refers to how long the chemical remains active in the environment. So even a highly toxic substance can pose less hazard if exposure is minimal and proper safety measures are used; conversely, a less toxic chemical can be riskier if exposure is high.