Which statement is true about pesticide exposure routes?

• A. Only ingestion is a concern.
• B. Some products that cause systemic injury are as toxic when absorbed through the skin as when swallowed.
• C. Skin absorption is always less toxic than ingestion.
• D. Inhalation is the only route.

Answer: (B)

Exposure routes determine how a pesticide can cause harm, and the potential for systemic effects depends on how readily the chemical is absorbed and distributed in the body. Some products are formulated to penetrate the skin efficiently, delivering a dose into the bloodstream that can be just as toxic as the same amount swallowed. When skin absorption delivers enough of the active ingredient to reach target organs, systemic injury can occur without any oral exposure. This is why dermal contact with certain pesticides is a major route of concern and why skin protection is crucial. It’s not true that only ingestion is a concern, nor that skin absorption is always less toxic than ingestion, and not true that inhalation is the only route. The actual risk depends on the chemical’s properties and the exposure conditions.