Which statement about pesticide exposure routes is true?

The statement regarding eating, drinking, or smoking without washing hands after handling pesticides highlights a critical aspect of safety in pesticide management. This emphasizes the importance of hygiene practices in preventing pesticide exposure. When pesticides are handled, residues can easily remain on the skin, especially on hands. If individuals engage in activities like eating or smoking without first cleaning their hands, they can inadvertently transfer harmful chemicals to their mouths, leading to ingestion of the pesticide.

This understanding is vital, as it underscores the need for proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and thorough hand-washing protocols post-handling. This practice is essential not only for safety but also for ensuring compliance with best practices in pesticide usage.

In contrast, other statements do not accurately reflect the typical routes or effects of pesticide exposure. The statistic regarding inhalation being responsible for 97% of body exposure may not align with established findings, and the assertion about skin absorption rates among different body parts varies, with some studies suggesting that areas like palms can absorb chemicals quickly, but not necessarily more so than others. Additionally, while dermal contact is a significant route of exposure, it does not imply that it is the predominant source in all cases, which complicates the validation of that statement compared to the clear implications of the