Which route of exposure is ingestion/oral?

• A. Ingestion/Oral
• B. Inhalation
• C. Injection
• D. Ocular

Answer: (A)

Exposure routes describe how a hazardous agent enters the body. Ingestion, or oral exposure, occurs when a substance enters through the mouth and is swallowed, passing into the gastrointestinal tract where some of it can be absorbed into the bloodstream. This can happen if contaminated dust or liquids are swallowed, or through hand-to-mouth contact after touching contaminated surfaces or eating and drinking in the presence of a contaminant. It’s distinct from inhalation (breathing in a substance into the lungs), injection (entry through a puncture or needle bypassing the skin barrier), and ocular exposure (contact with the eye). So the route described by ingestion/oral is swallowing a substance through the mouth.