Measuring Toxicity

Question 1

What are toxins or poisons?

Answer 1

Substances that produce serious health problems or death when introduced into an organism.

Question 2

In order to compare toxins, scientists use a measurement called what?

Answer 2

LD50

Question 3

What does LD50 mean?

Break down

Answer 3

“LD” stands for “lethal dose” and the “50” represents 50%.

Question 4

Define LD50

Answer 4

LD50 is the amount of a substance that
causes 50% of a group of test animals to die if they are given a specified dose of the substance all at once.

Question 5

All toxic chemicals will cause what in some organisms if given in large enough doses.

Answer 5

Death

Question 6

LD50 testing is usually done on what? How do they determine how much.

Answer 6

Rats and mice. It is stated as the amount of chemical given per unit of body mass.