The higher the LD50 of a pesticide, what can be inferred about its toxicity?

The LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of a population) value is a critical measure used to assess the toxicity of a substance, such as a pesticide. A higher LD50 indicates that a larger amount of the substance is required to achieve a lethal effect in 50% of the test subjects, typically laboratory animals. This means that, in practical terms, the pesticide is less toxic because it takes more of it to reach a harmful effect.

In contrast, a lower LD50 value signifies that even small amounts of the pesticide can produce significant toxic effects, indicating higher toxicity. Therefore, if the LD50 is high, it suggests that the pesticide poses a lower risk of poisoning to both humans and wildlife when used as directed. Consequently, a higher LD50 reflects that the substance is less toxic overall.