What term describes a pesticide's capacity to cause short-term or long-term injury?

The term that describes a pesticide's capacity to cause short-term or long-term injury is toxicity. Toxicity refers specifically to the inherent properties of a chemical or substance that can lead to adverse effects on organisms, including humans, plants, and animals. It measures the degree to which a substance can harm living tissue or cause illness when exposure occurs.

In the context of pesticides, understanding toxicity is crucial for assessing the potential risks associated with their use. This includes evaluating how much of the pesticide is needed to cause injury and the duration of harmful effects that could result from exposure.

While hazard is related to the potential for a pesticide to cause harm, it encompasses both the toxicity of the product and the level of exposure. Residue pertains to the amount of pesticide that remains on or in a treated surface after application, and concentration refers to the amount of pesticide present in a given volume or mass. These terms provide important information but do not specifically define the capacity to cause injury as effectively as toxicity does.