Why is knowledge about the persistence of a chemical important when considering its toxicity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Knowledge about the persistence of a chemical is important when considering its toxicity because persistence measures how long a chemical remains in its present state in an area and, therefore, how long it might be a health concern. Highly persistent chemicals may pose a greater risk to human health and the environment as they tend to accumulate in the food chain and are more difficult to remove from the environment. Persistence is not a direct measure of toxicity; therefore, options A and B are incorrect. Persistence is not related to the number of carbons in an organic molecule, so option D is also incorrect. Persistence can affect the amount of the chemical present in a particular food chain, but this is not the main reason why knowledge about persistence is important when considering toxicity, so option E is not the best choice.

Why Is Knowledge About the Persistence of a Chemical Important