What is toxicity in the context of environmental safety?

In the context of environmental safety, toxicity refers to the capacity of a substance to cause harm or poison living organisms. This definition encompasses the potential health risks posed by chemicals, including pesticides, to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Understanding toxicity is crucial for evaluating the safety of various substances when they are introduced into the environment, as it helps determine the appropriate levels of exposure that are considered safe and those that can lead to adverse effects.

When assessing the impact of chemicals, it is important to recognize that toxicity can vary based on factors such as concentration, route of exposure, and the specific species affected. This underscores the need for careful management and regulation of substances to protect environmental and human health.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of environmental science, such as pollution levels, dosage required for effectiveness, and biodiversity, but do not specifically address the ability of substances to cause harm to organisms, which is the essence of toxicity.