What does acute toxicity measure?

Acute toxicity specifically measures the effects of a toxic substance following a single exposure or dose. This concept is critical in toxicology, as it helps determine how immediate the harmful effects can be after a person, animal, or plant comes into contact with a toxic agent. Acute toxicity protocols generally involve assessing various outcomes, such as death, sickness, or physiological changes, within a short time frame after exposure.

In contrast, the other options address different toxicity scenarios. For instance, one of the choices refers to effects from multiple exposures, which aligns more with chronic toxicity assessments, focusing on long-term effects rather than immediate reactions. Another option touches upon negligible exposure, which would not typically lead to a definition of acute toxicity. Finally, overall toxicity from long-term exposure encapsulates chronic toxicity, measuring effects over an extended period rather than immediate reactions from a single dose. Therefore, understanding acute toxicity is essential for assessing the quick and severe impacts of a chemical or agent right after exposure.