What is the oral LD50 level which indicates a highly toxic pesticide?

The oral LD50 level refers to the median lethal dose of a substance, and it's a standard measure used to assess the toxicity of pesticides. This value indicates the amount of a substance required to kill 50% of a test population, typically expressed in milligrams of substance per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg).

In the context of toxicity classification, pesticides are categorized based on their LD50 values. A pesticide with an oral LD50 of 50 mg/kg or less is considered highly toxic. Therefore, a value of 46 mg/kg firmly places it within the range classified as highly toxic. This indicates that less of the substance is needed to reach a lethal dose, which raises significant safety concerns regarding its use and handling.

Understanding this classification is vital for safe application and management practices, as it helps pesticide applicators mitigate risks to themselves, the environment, and non-target organisms.