What is the term for the sum of adverse effects resulting from exposure to a substance?

The term for the sum of adverse effects resulting from exposure to a substance is toxicity. Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance can cause harm to an organism through various mechanisms. It encompasses the severity and nature of the harmful effects, the dose of the substance, and the duration of exposure. Toxic effects can manifest in different ways depending on the type of substance and the organism's characteristics.

Understanding toxicity is crucial in fields such as esthetics and environmental science, as it helps professionals assess the safety of products and substances used in treatments or encountered in the environment. Recognizing the potential hazards and effects can aid in prevention and response efforts in the case of adverse reactions.

The other terms presented relate to different concepts: hazard typically refers to the potential for harm without necessarily specifying the nature or extent of that harm; volatility describes how quickly a substance can vaporize or become gas at normal temperatures; and irreversibility refers to permanent changes that occur as a result of exposure rather than the overall harmful effects. Thus, toxicity is the most accurate term to describe the sum of adverse effects from exposure to a substance.