Editing Median lethal dose (section)

== Poison scale ==
[[File:Poison-Scale-long.jpg|thumb|700px| Negative values of the [[decimal logarithm]] of the median lethal dose LD<sub>50</sub> ({{math|&minus;log<sub>10</sub>(LD<sub>50</sub>)}}) on a linearized toxicity scale encompassing 11 orders of magnitude. Water occupies the lowest toxicity position (1) while the toxicity scale is dominated by the [[botulinum toxin]] (12).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors= Strey, Karsten | title = Die Gifte-Skala | journal = Chemie in unserer Zeit | volume=53 | issue = 6 | pages = 386–399 | date = December 2019 | doi = 10.1002/ciuz.201900828 | s2cid = 199067092 }}</ref>]]

The LD<sub>50</sub> values have a very wide range. The [[botulinum toxin]] as the most toxic substance known has an LD<sub>50</sub> value of 1&nbsp;ng/kg, while the most non-toxic substance [[water]] has an LD<sub>50</sub> value of more than 90&nbsp;g/kg; a difference of about 1 in 100 billion, or 11 orders of magnitude. As with all measured values that differ by many orders of magnitude, a logarithmic view is advisable. Well-known examples are the indication of the earthquake strength using the [[Richter scale]], the [[pH value]], as a measure for the acidic or basic character of an aqueous solution or of [[Sound pressure#Sound pressure level|loudness]] in [[decibel]]s.
In this case, the negative decimal logarithm of the LD<sub>50</sub> values, which is standardized in kg per kg body weight, is considered {{math|&minus;log<sub>10</sub>(LD<sub>50</sub>)}}.

The dimensionless value found can be entered in a toxin scale. Water as the baseline substance is nearly 1 in the negative logarithmic toxin scale.