Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage an
organism. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an
animal,
bacterium, or
plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a
cell (
cytotoxicity) or an organ such as the
liver (
hepatotoxicity). By extension, the word may be
metaphorically used to describe toxic effects on larger and more complex groups, such as the
family unit or society at large.