What information does the LD50 provide regarding a pesticide?

The LD50, or lethal dose for 50% of the population, specifically measures the toxicity of a substance, typically in a laboratory setting with test animals. It indicates the dose at which 50% of the subjects exposed to the pesticide would be expected to die as a result of that exposure. This value is crucial for understanding the potential dangers associated with a pesticide and is often expressed in milligrams of the substance per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg).

This information is particularly valuable for both risk assessment and regulatory purposes, helping to set safety thresholds and guidelines for pesticide use. It provides insight into how much of the active ingredient is necessary to determine its lethal effect on a given population, contributing to evaluations of risk to both humans and non-target species. While it certainly touches on the implications for human toxicity, the primary focus of LD50 is within the context of lab animals, reflecting the measurement's scientific basis and utility in toxicology studies.