Exposure pathways are the routes by which a person comes into contact with a hazard in environmental health risk assessment. Which of the following describes exposure pathways?

• A. Inhalation
• B. All of the above
• C. Ingestion
• D. Dermal

Answer: (B)

Exposure pathways are the routes by which a person comes into contact with a hazard during environmental health risk assessment. The main routes include inhalation (breathing in contaminated air), ingestion (consuming contaminated food or water), and dermal contact (skin exposure). Often multiple routes contribute to overall exposure, so an answer that encompasses inhalation, ingestion, and dermal exposure best describes exposure pathways. Since all three routes are possible routes of contact, the description that includes them all is the correct description of exposure pathways.