What term describes the capacity of a pesticide to cause injury over time?

The term that describes the capacity of a pesticide to cause injury over time is toxicity. Toxicity refers specifically to the degree to which a substance can harm living organisms. In the case of pesticides, this includes both the immediate effects and the longer-term consequences of exposure to the chemical. Understanding the toxicity of a pesticide is crucial for assessing its potential impact on human health, wildlife, and the environment over time.

While injury describes the actual harm caused, toxicity is concerned with the inherent ability of a substance to cause such harm. Corrosiveness relates to the ability of a substance to damage materials or surfaces, which is a different concept. Hazard encompasses both the toxicity of a substance and the exposure risk, but does not focus solely on the injury potential over time. Therefore, toxicity is the most precise term that reflects the ability of a pesticide to cause injury in a sustained or chronic manner.