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AAT Bioquest

What is the difference between fatal and lethal toxicity?

Posted April 9, 2021


Answer

Fatal and lethal toxicity are often used interchangeably but that is a mistake. There is a subtle difference between the two terms. Fatal toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause harm to an organism. Lethal toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause the death of an organism

Additional resources

A comparison of the lethal and sublethal toxicity of organic chemical mixtures to the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

LD50 Calculator