Skadeligt

Skadeligt is an adjective used in Danish (and to some extent Norwegian) to describe something that can cause harm or damage to health, safety, or the environment. It is commonly found in safety statements, product labels, and health risk communications.

Nuance and usage: Skadeligt signals a risk of harm but is generally less severe than terms like toxic or poisonous. It covers a range of adverse effects, from irritation and sensitization to longer-term damage, depending on context. It is often used with nouns such as skadelige virkninger (harmful effects), skadelige stoffer (harmful substances), or skadelige eksponeringer (harmful exposures).

Language and etymology: The word derives from skade meaning harm plus the suffix -ligt, and has cognates in other Scandinavian languages. In Swedish the closest term is skadligt, and in Norwegian bokmål skadelig; in Danish these forms are closely related and commonly used in safety terminology.

Context and usage in risk communication: In Danish-speaking contexts, skadeligt appears on packaging, warning signs, and safety data or risk statements to indicate potential health hazards. It is used to convey that exposure or contact with a substance or condition may cause harm, without necessarily implying immediate toxicity or fatal danger. See also hazard communication, labeling practices, and safety standards in Danish regulatory language.