Which statement best describes how risk relates to toxicity?

Which statement best describes how risk relates to toxicity?

• A. Risk depends on both how toxic a pesticide is and how much exposure you have
• B. Toxicity alone determines risk
• C. Risk is independent of exposure
• D. Pesticides with low toxicity always have low risk

Answer: (A)

Risk comes from both how toxic a pesticide is and how much exposure people or the environment have to it. Toxicity is the inherent potential to cause harm, but the actual risk depends on exposure—the amount, duration, and route of contact. So a highly toxic chemical can pose little risk if exposure is minimal, while a less toxic chemical can pose higher risk with significant or prolonged exposure. The best statement reflects that risk is determined by both toxicity and exposure, unlike the other options which ignore exposure or assume low toxicity always means low risk.

Risk comes from both how toxic a pesticide is and how much exposure people or the environment have to it. Toxicity is the inherent potential to cause harm, but the actual risk depends on exposure—the amount, duration, and route of contact. So a highly toxic chemical can pose little risk if exposure is minimal, while a less toxic chemical can pose higher risk with significant or prolonged exposure. The best statement reflects that risk is determined by both toxicity and exposure, unlike the other options which ignore exposure or assume low toxicity always means low risk.