True or False: A smaller LD50 value indicates that a pesticide is more toxic.

A smaller LD50 value does indeed indicate that a pesticide is more toxic. The LD50, or lethal dose for 50% of the test population, is a standard measurement used to gauge the acute toxicity of substances, including pesticides. The lower the LD50 value, the less amount of the substance is required to cause death in half of the tested subjects, which signifies greater toxicity.

For instance, if one pesticide has an LD50 of 10 mg/kg and another has an LD50 of 100 mg/kg, the first pesticide would be viewed as significantly more toxic because it would take a much smaller dose to achieve lethal effects in a population. This metric is critical in assessing the safety and risks associated with pesticide use, influencing regulations and safety practices in agricultural and pest control settings.