Definition
How an organism's response to a toxic substance changes as its overall exposure to the substance changes. For example, a small dose of carbon monoxide may cause drowsiness; a large dose can be fatal.
See also:
Acute Effect
An adverse effect on any living organism in which severe symptoms develop rapidly and often subside after the exposure stops.
Acute Toxicity
Adverse effects that result from a single dose or single exposure of a chemical; any poisonous effect produced within a short period of time, usually less than 96 hours. This term normally is used to describe effects in experimental animals.
Chronic Effect
An adverse effect on any living organism in which symptoms develop slowly over a long period of time or recur frequently.