Why is LD50 data useful?

Toxicity levels differ from one species to another. A substance that’s highly toxic for one species may be mildly toxic or nontoxic for another.

LD50 measures the amount of a substance that is sufficient to kill 50% of a specific species when given all at once within a certain time period. This data is useful for evaluating the acute toxicity of various substances on different species. A lower LD50 value indicates a higher toxicity level. A lower LD50 means a smaller dose is sufficient to kill 50% of a test group of a specific species.