Pesticide toxicity refers to which?

• A. How badly the pesticide smells
• B. How much carryover to expect in the following crop
• C. How much residue is allowed on our food
• D. The ability of the pesticide to cause harmful effects

Answer: (D)

Toxicity is about the potential of a pesticide to cause harmful effects in people or other living things when exposure occurs. It measures the harm a chemical can cause, not how it smells, how much it carries over to the next crop, or what residue limits exist on food. So the essential idea is the pesticide’s ability to cause harmful effects.