Industry research<br /> for large-scale sustainability Industry research<br /> for large-scale sustainability

Glossary

Risk

The terms danger and risk are often used in the same context and are easily confused. Danger is the potential to cause harm. Thus, a lion poses a danger to humans. Or in terms of food, there is a danger of salmonella poisoning when eating raw eggs. Risk, in contrast, is determined by exposure to the hazard. In other words: A free-roaming lion is a high risk for humans, whereas a lion in a zoo cage is a low risk. If I eat raw eggs, the risk of contact with salmonella is high, but if I cook them, the risk of disease is lower.

In the discussion about plant protection products, the terms danger and risk often get mixed up. Pesticides substances are intended to combat pests or germs, whether as plant protection products, household pest control or disinfectants. They therefore have a biological effect, otherwise they would neither be approved by the authorities nor bought and used by consumers. However, depending on the active ingredient, they also can harbour an inherent danger. When used properly and carefully, however, they pose a low risk to humans and the environment. This also applies to every household chemical such as bleach or ammonia.

Sources

Terms from the glossary