Georgia Pesticide Applicators Practice Exam

What is the measure of a pesticide's ability to cause harmful effects called?

1. LD 50

2. ED 50

3. IC 50

4. TD 50

The correct answer is: LD 50

The measure of a pesticide's ability to cause harmful effects is referred to as LD 50, which stands for "lethal dose for 50% of the population." It reflects the amount of a substance required to cause death in fifty percent of a test group, typically measured in milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg). Understanding LD 50 is crucial for evaluating the potential risks associated with pesticide use; lower LD 50 values indicate a higher toxicity level, meaning that smaller amounts of the pesticide can be lethal to a significant portion of exposed organisms. This measure is a key parameter in toxicology and helps professionals assess safety and make informed decisions regarding the application and regulation of pesticides. In contrast, the other options refer to different measures related to pesticide and pharmaceutical effects. ED 50 stands for "effective dose for 50% of the population," which measures the dose required to elicit a therapeutic effect rather than causing harm. IC 50 represents "inhibitory concentration for 50%," indicating the concentration required to inhibit a biological or biochemical function by half, and TD 50 signifies "toxic dose for 50%," which refers to the dose that produces a toxic effect in fifty percent of the population. Each