LC50 measures what?

LC50 measures what?

• A. The amount of an injected or ingested material that'll kill 50% of test population
• B. Concentration of dust, mist, vapor or gas in air or water that kills 50% of test population
• C. The exposure time required to kill 50% of the test population
• D. The dose of a chemical that kills 50% of test population after prolonged exposure

Answer: (B)

LC50 is the concentration of a contaminant in the environment (air or water) that will kill 50% of a test population during a defined exposure period. It’s used to compare how toxic a substance is via inhalation or aquatic exposure—the lower the LC50, the more toxic the substance is through that route. This differs from LD50, which is about the dose absorbed by the body through ingestion or injection. Also, LC50 depends on the exposure duration and the medium (air or water), so a different duration or medium can yield a different LC50 value.

LC50 is the concentration of a contaminant in the environment (air or water) that will kill 50% of a test population during a defined exposure period. It’s used to compare how toxic a substance is via inhalation or aquatic exposure—the lower the LC50, the more toxic the substance is through that route. This differs from LD50, which is about the dose absorbed by the body through ingestion or injection. Also, LC50 depends on the exposure duration and the medium (air or water), so a different duration or medium can yield a different LC50 value.