What term describes the inherent capacity of a pesticide to produce injury or death?

The term that describes the inherent capacity of a pesticide to produce injury or death is toxicity. Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals and is a fundamental concept in toxicology. It quantifies the potential harmful effects that a chemical can cause upon exposure, taking into account factors such as dose and route of exposure. Understanding toxicity is crucial for assessing the safety and environmental impacts of pesticides.

In contrast, the other terms refer to different concepts. The antagonistic effect describes a situation where two substances interact in a way that diminishes the effects of each other, while the synergistic effect refers to interactions where two substances work together to produce a greater effect than each would alone. Lastly, the hazard effect is less specific and often refers to potential risks associated with a substance but does not directly describe the capacity to cause harm like toxicity does.