Final answer:
Pesticide toxicity is the potential of a pesticide to cause harmful effects on humans and the environment. It can result from different levels of exposure, with serious health risks associated with both acute and chronic exposure, especially among agricultural workers in developing countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pesticide toxicity refers to the property of a pesticide to cause adverse physiological effects.
Pesticides, including substances like herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, are used to control pests that can cause damage to crops and potentially spread disease. However, despite their benefits, the use of pesticides can lead to various forms of poisoning among humans and wildlife. This includes short-term very high-level exposure, long-term high-level exposure, and long-term low-level exposure. The latter can occur through sources like pesticide residues in food or contact with pesticide residues in the environment, leading to serious health risks such as cancer and cardiopulmonary disorders.
Particularly vulnerable are agricultural workers and those in developing countries, where overuse of pesticides and lack of proper safety precautions are prevalent due to weak regulatory systems. Pesticides that are banned or restricted in developed countries often find their way into these less regulated markets.