Oregon Pesticide Practice Test

What term is used to describe a pesticide's capacity to cause short term or long term injury?

1. Potency

2. Efficacy

3. Toxicity

4. Hazard

The correct answer is: Toxicity

The term that describes a pesticide's capacity to cause short-term or long-term injury is toxicity. Toxicity refers specifically to the degree to which a substance can harm living organisms, which includes both immediate and delayed effects from exposure. This concept is essential in understanding how pesticides interact with various biological systems, as it encompasses the range of potential adverse effects that can result from their application. In ensuring safety during the use of pesticides, it's critical to assess not only how effective a pesticide is at controlling pests but also its inherent toxicity and the risks it poses to non-target organisms, humans, and the environment. Understanding toxicity helps applicators make informed decisions about pesticide selection and usage, balancing effectiveness with safety. The other terms, while related, do not accurately describe the capacity for injury. Potency relates to the strength or concentration needed to produce a certain effect but does not encompass the notion of injury. Efficacy refers to the effectiveness of a pesticide against its intended target, and hazard denotes the potential for harm under specific conditions of exposure. Thus, toxicity is the proper term to discuss the potential for injury associated with pesticide use.