What term describes the ability of a pesticide to cause short-term or long-term injury?

The term that best describes the ability of a pesticide to cause short-term or long-term injury is toxicity. Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm living organisms. Pesticides, due to their chemical nature, can have varying levels of toxicity based on the specific formulation, the method of exposure, and the sensitivity of the organism exposed to the pesticide.

Toxicity encompasses both acute effects, which may occur shortly after high-level exposure, and chronic effects, which may result from lower-level exposure over an extended period. Understanding toxicity is crucial for determining appropriate safety measures, application techniques, and safety protocols when using herbicides.

While the other terms relate to pesticide safety and handling, they do not specifically address the inherent harmfulness of the pesticide itself. Exposure refers to the contact between organisms and pesticides; hazard relates to the potential for an agent to cause harm under certain conditions; and risk encapsulates both the likelihood of exposure and the potential for adverse effects. Hence, while all these concepts are interconnected, toxicity is the most precise term for describing the ability of a pesticide to inflict injury over time.