Which term refers to substances or situations that can be harmful due to biological agents?

The term that refers to substances or situations that can be harmful due to biological agents is "biohazards." This designation encompasses biological materials that pose a risk to the health of living organisms, primarily humans. Biohazards can include a variety of substances like infected blood, bodily fluids, and other biological materials that may carry infectious diseases or hazardous biological agents.

While "toxins" typically refer to specific poisonous substances produced by living organisms, "contaminants" generally denote any unwanted substances that may pollute or degrade a particular environment but do not exclusively relate to biological risks. "Pathogens," on the other hand, specifically describe microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, or fungi that can cause disease but do not convey the broader implications of harmful situations or materials that "biohazards" imply. Thus, "biohazards" effectively encompasses the complete range of harmful biological agents and their contexts.