Skadelige

Skadelige is a Norwegian adjective used to describe something that can cause harm, injury, or damage to health, safety, or the environment. It is most commonly seen in phrases describing substances, processes, or effects that pose a risk to people or ecosystems. The form skadelige is used with plural nouns (for example, skadelige stoffer or skadelige virkninger), while the singular form is skadelig in many contexts.

In scientific and public health language, skadelige describes adverse or harmful outcomes from exposure, contact, or handling. Examples include skadelige stoffer (harmful substances), skadelige effekter (harmful effects), and skadelig eksponering (harmful exposure). The term is often paired with verbs and nouns that indicate risk, prevention, or regulation, such as redusere skadelige virkninger, sette grenser for skadelig eksponering, or varsle om skadelige stoffer.

Etymologically, skadelige derives from skade (injury, damage) and the suffix -lig, forming an adjective meaning capable of producing harm. It is closely related to, but distinct from, related terms like farlig (dangerous) and skadelidelig (capable of causing damage under certain circumstances). In practice, skadelige emphasizes the damage potential to health or the environment rather than immediate danger alone; context often clarifies whether the focus is on acute risk or long-term harm.

In everyday and regulatory use, skadelige is common in health, safety, chemistry, and environmental texts. It appears in warnings, labels, and guidelines to inform about risks and to justify protective measures or restrictions. The term helps differentiate harmful effects from benign or neutral conditions, supporting clear communication about risk management.