What does systemic toxicity measure?

Systemic toxicity refers to the ability of a substance to cause harmful effects throughout the body after it has been absorbed into the bloodstream. This measure assesses how the chemical impacts critical body functions, including vital organs and metabolic processes, which can lead to significant health risks.

Understanding systemic toxicity is essential for evaluating the safety of herbicides and ensuring that they do not pose unacceptable risks to human health when used as directed. By measuring how a chemical affects these critical functions, safety assessments can determine appropriate usage guidelines and protective measures for applicators and those in proximity to treated areas.

In considering the other options, absorption rates in the skin focus specifically on the rate at which a chemical enters the body rather than its effects. Effects on the environment pertain more to ecological impact rather than direct human health implications, and duration of the chemical's presence relates more to persistence in the environment than to health effects. Hence, the primary focus of systemic toxicity is on how the chemical impacts body functions after it has entered the system.