Toxicity is the degree to which a substance or a mixture of substances can harm humans or animals. The EPA conducts
toxicity assessments to characterize the properties and effects of chemicals and compounds, with special emphasis on the establishment of dose-response characteristics. To facilitate these assessments, the EPA uses a scale of toxicity, from acute to subchronic, for measuring the harmfulness of each substance. The Agency also manages the Toxics Release Inventory, a database of toxic chemicals that are being used, manufactured, treated, transported, or released into the environment.
Recommended EPA Web pages |