Which of the following statements correctly contrasts acute and chronic toxicity?

• A. Acute toxicity results from repeated or prolonged exposure.
• B. Acute toxicity occurs after a single or short-term exposure.
• C. Acute toxicity results from a single or short-term exposure, whereas chronic toxicity results from repeated or prolonged exposure.
• D. Acute toxicity is dose-independent; chronic toxicity is dose-dependent.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how long exposure lasts and how effects develop. Acute toxicity comes from a single event or a very short exposure and causes immediate or near-immediate effects. Chronic toxicity, by contrast, results from repeated or prolonged exposure over time, with effects that may accumulate and appear after months or years. Therefore, the correct statement correctly contrasts them by saying acute arises from a single or short-term exposure, while chronic arises from repeated or prolonged exposure. The other options mix up the timing or imply an incorrect dose relationship—for example, claiming acute comes from repeated exposure or labeling acute toxicity as dose-independent.