The three primary methods of chemical exposure are?

Study for the Missouri EFDA Basic Skills Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your certification exam!

Understanding how chemicals enter the body helps you prevent exposure. The three primary routes are inhalation (breathing in vapors, gases, or aerosols), ingestion (swallowing chemicals due to hand-to-mouth contact or contaminated food/water), and dermal exposure (chemicals penetrating the skin). In a dental setting, these are the most common pathways you need to guard against, since aerosols and splashes can be inhaled or come into contact with skin, and careful hand hygiene helps prevent ingestion. Eye exposure is important to protect against, but it’s typically treated as a separate route rather than one of the main three. The option that lists inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact best matches these primary exposure routes.