What is the term for a statistical estimate of an oral dose of a chemical that produces a lethal effect on half of an animal population?

The term that refers to a statistical estimate of the oral dose of a chemical that causes a lethal effect in half of an animal population is indeed LD50. This acronym stands for "Lethal Dose for 50% of the population." It is a commonly used measure in toxicology to assess the toxicity of substances and provides vital information about the average lethal dose required to kill 50% of a test population, usually in laboratory animals.

LD50 is important for understanding the potential hazards of chemicals and serves as a guideline for regulatory agencies to make decisions related to safety and exposure limits. It helps in comparing the toxicity of different substances and is often used in risk assessment to evaluate the safety of chemicals for human health and the environment.

In contrast, other terms such as LC50 (Lethal Concentration for 50% of the population), EC50 (Effective Concentration for 50% of the population), and ED50 (Effective Dose for 50% of the population) have specific meanings related to different types of effects or exposure scenarios but do not specifically refer to an oral dose leading to lethality.