![]() Factors such as age, illness, diet, alcohol use, pregnancy and medical or nonmedical drug use can also affect a person's sensitivity to a chemical.People who are allergic to bee venom, for example, have a more serious reaction to a bee sting than people who are not. Then they may react to very low levels of the chemical and have different or more serious health effects than nonallergic people exposed to the same amount. People may become allergic to a chemical after being exposed.People's bodies vary in their ability to absorb and break down or eliminate certain chemicals due to genetic differences.SensitivityĪll people are not equally sensitive to chemicals, and are not affected by them in the same way. Some chemicals in household furniture, carpeting or cleaners can be sources of chronic exposure. Over time, some chemicals, such as PCBs and lead, can build up in the body.Ĭhronic exposures can also occur at home. If a chemical is used every day on the job, the exposure would be chronic. The fumes someone might inhale during these activities are examples of acute exposures.Ĭhronic exposure is continuous or repeated contact with a toxic substance over a long period of time (months or years). For example, it might take a few minutes to clean windows with ammonia, use nail polish remover or spray a can of paint. It may last a few seconds or a few hours. Either may cause health effects.Īcute exposure is a short contact with a chemical. Long-term exposure is called chronic exposure. Short-term exposure is called acute exposure. For example, breathing or swallowing lead can result in health effects, but touching lead is not usually harmful because lead is not absorbed particularly well through the skin. The route of exposure can determine whether or not the toxic substance has an effect. Substances can be absorbed into the blood and then transported to the rest of the body. ![]() Children are at greater risk of ingesting substances found in dust or soil because they often put their fingers or other objects in their mouths. Chemicals that get in or on food, cigarettes, utensils or hands can be swallowed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |