In the context of chemical hazards, what does 'synergism' refer to?

Synergism in the context of chemical hazards refers to a scenario where two or more chemicals interact in such a way that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This means that when exposed to multiple chemicals, the resulting toxicity can be significantly heightened compared to exposure to each chemical alone. Understanding synergism is crucial for assessing risk in food safety and public health, as it can lead to unforeseen health impacts when various chemicals are present together, which might not be apparent when assessing their effects individually. Thus, it highlights the importance of comprehensive safety evaluations in environments where chemical exposures are common.