An exposure pathway
refers to the way in which a person may come into contact with a
hazardous substance, whether it is a chemical, biological, or some other
harmful substance. There are three basic exposure pathways: inhalation,
ingestion, or direct contact. The degree or extent of exposure is
determined by measuring the amount of the hazardous substance at the
point of contact, whether that contact occurs in the lungs of someone
who has breathed in the hazard, the stomach lining of someone who has
eaten it, or the skin of someone who has touched it.
Health and ecological hazards can result from such exposures. Some
common ways in which people may become exposed to hazardous substances
include the following:
- Groundwater and Surface Water. Exposure will occur if people drink
contaminated groundwater or surface water, accidentally ingest it
while swimming, or if it comes into contact with their skin (e.g., in
the shower, while swimming, etc.).
- Soil, Sediment, Dust. People will be exposed to hazardous
substances in soil, sediment, or dust if they accidentally ingest it
(e.g., the contaminants land on their food), if they breathe it in
(especially dust), or if their skin comes into direct contact with the
contaminated materials. Because of their play habits, children are
highly susceptible to exposure through these pathways.
- Air. When the hazardous substance takes the form of vapors or is
absorbed by particulate matter (e.g., dust), the simple act of
breathing can expose people to contamination. In some cases, a
person's skin can absorb a hazardous substance in vapor form, although
inhalation is considered the greater threat.
- Food. Eating food that has been contaminated is another common
exposure route. In some cases, food found on people's plates may be
contaminated as a result of direct exposure to the hazardous
substance. In other cases, food contamination may occur further down
the food chain. For example, hazardous substances can collect in the
fatty tissues of animals that ingest contaminated plants. The
contamination can then be transferred to the animals' natural
predators, and eventually, to people.
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