The taking of hazardous materials into the body through the undamaged skin and the eyes is:

• A. Asorption
• B. Ingestion
• C. Inhalation
• D. Injection

Answer: (A)

Absorption is the process by which hazardous materials enter the body through intact skin and the eyes. This route is different from ingestion (entering through the mouth), inhalation (entering through the lungs), and injection (entering directly through the skin into tissue or bloodstream). The skin and ocular surfaces can allow certain chemicals to diffuse into the bloodstream even when there’s no cut or puncture. How much is absorbed depends on the chemical’s properties (such as solubility and molecular size), how concentrated it is, how long the contact lasts, how much skin or eye area is exposed, and the condition of the skin or mucous membranes. Protective measures like gloves and eye protection reduce this risk by acting as barriers, and prompt washing or decontamination after exposure lowers absorption.