Which term refers to how poisonous a pesticide is after short-term exposure?

The correct term for how poisonous a pesticide is after short-term exposure is acute toxicity. Acute toxicity refers specifically to the harmful effects that result from a single or short-term exposure to a substance, such as a pesticide. This kind of toxicity is often measured in laboratory settings and expressed in various units, such as LD50 (the lethal dose required to kill 50% of a test population, typically used with animals), which helps determine the level of risk associated with immediate or short-lived exposure to pesticides.

Chronic toxicity, on the other hand, deals with the adverse effects that result from long-term exposure to a substance over an extended period. Delayed toxicity refers to harmful effects that may not appear until some time after exposure, while residual toxicity indicates the toxicity that persists in a pesticide after it has been applied and is still present in the environment or on a treated surface which could potentially affect subsequent exposures. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for pesticide safety and ensuring appropriate handling and usage.