Hazard/agent/stressor

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-012903",
  "term": "Hazard/agent/stressor",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "Hazard, agent, and stressor can sometimes be used synonymously. However, there are cases where the terms need to be differentiated. For example, \"stressor\" is used in ecological risk assessment and includes the connotation that the adverse response can be the result of a lack of something - such as a habitat - which would be called a \"stressor.\" The term \"agent\" does not have this connotation. \"Agent\" is used to denote a causative entity that actually physically exists as part of the environment and can be used in either ecological or human health risk assessment. \"Hazard\" is used primarily in human health risk assessment, although \"hazards\" are not limited to \"agents.\" For example, the number of days spent in a hospital may be a hazard that correlates with risk of nosocomial infection.",
  "subject": "Health and safety",
  "references": [
    "Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/hazard-agent-stressor/"
}