毒性（どくせい、dokusei）
- toxicity

The Japanese word 毒性 (*dokusei*) primarily means "toxicity" or "poisonous nature." It refers to the degree to which a substance or agent can cause harm to a living organism. It encapsulates the potential of something to be 毒, or toxic. This includes the severity and nature of the harmful effects. This word is often used in scientific, medical, and environmental contexts. It can be applied to chemicals, substances, and even certain environments. It's a noun.

⚫︎ その薬は強い毒性がある。 Translation: That medicine has strong toxicity. ⚫︎ この植物は毒性があるので、触らないでください。 Translation: This plant has toxicity, so please don't touch it. ⚫︎ 環境汚染は、水域の毒性を高める可能性があります。 Translation: Environmental pollution can increase the toxicity of water bodies.

You would use 毒性 in situations where you are discussing the poisonous properties or harmful effects of a substance, object, or environment. * When describing the danger of a chemical. * When reporting on the impact of pollutants. * When discussing the effects of a venomous creature. * In scientific reports and discussions about toxicology.

毒性 is written using the kanji 毒 (doku - poison) and the suffix 性 (sei - nature, quality, property). It is typically written in kanji and hiragana (毒性). There are no variations in okurigana. It is always written as 性.

* 有害性 (*yuugaisei*) - harmfulness, toxicity * 毒物性 (*dokubutsu-sei*) - property of being a poison * 危険性 (*kikensei*) - danger, risk (can be used in related contexts)

* 無害性 (*mugaisei*) - harmlessness * 安全 (*anzen*) - safety (related concept) * 解毒性 (*gedokusei*) - detoxification property

その化学物質の毒性評価を行う必要があります。 ・Translation: We need to conduct a toxicity evaluation of that chemical substance. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the need to analyze and assess the harmful effects of a substance.

この食品は毒性検査に合格しました。 ・Translation: This food passed the toxicity test. ・Explanation: This example shows the importance of testing food products for poisonous properties.

The word 毒性 is formed by combining the kanji 毒 (doku), meaning "poison" or "toxic substance," and the suffix 性 (sei), which means "nature," "quality," or "property." The combination signifies the "property of being poisonous" or the "toxicity" itself.