Select the most appropriate synonym of the bracketed word in the following sentence to fill in the blank.
Lead paint is an environmental ________ (danger) and can harm children.

The correct answer is hazard.

Explanation:
In the given sentence, "Lead paint is an environmental ________ (danger) and can harm children," we need to find a word that is a synonym of "danger" to complete the sentence meaningfully.

Let's look at the meanings of the given options:
1. Conflict: A serious disagreement or argument.
2. Hazard: A danger or risk; something that causes harm or damage.
3. Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
4. Toil: Hard, continuous work or exhausting labor.

Since hazard directly means a source of danger or risk, it is the most appropriate synonym for the word "danger" in this context.