Exposure Pathway

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-010493",
  "term": "Exposure Pathway",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. RAGS Volume I, Part A, Chapter 6 defines exposure pathway as \"the course a chemical or physical agent takes from a source to an exposed organism. An exposure pathway describes a unique mechanism by which an individual or population is exposed to chemicals or physical agents at or originating from a site. Each exposure pathway includes a source or release from a source, an exposure point, and an exposure route. If the exposure point differs from the source, a transport/exposure medium (e.g. air) or media (in cases of intermedia transfer) also is included.\n\n2. The path from sources of pollutants via, soil, water, or food to man and other species or settings.\n\n3. The physical course a chemical takes from the source to the organism exposed.\n\n4. The exposure pathway is the physical course (e.g. through the air, or through drinking water) that a chemical takes from its emission by the facility to the exposed individual and is related to the type of release.\n\n5. A route by which organisms are exposed to radiation or radionuclides. The three basic radiation exposure pathways are inhalation (breathing), ingestion (eating or drinking), and external exposure (irradiation from an external source).\n\n6. The course a chemical or physical agent takes from a source to an exposed organism. An exposure pathway includes a source and release from a source, an exposure point, and an exposure route. If the exposure point differs from the source, a transport/exposure medium (e.g., air) or media (in cases of intermedia transfer) also is included.\n\n7. pathway of exposure - The physical course a pesticide takes from the source to the organism exposed (e.g., through food or drinking water consumption or residential pesticide uses).\n\n8. The route a substance takes from its source (where it began) to its end point (where it ends), and how people can come into contact with (or get exposed to) it. An exposure pathway has five parts: a source of contamination (such as an abandoned business); an environmental media and transport mechanism (such as movement through groundwater); a point of exposure (such as a private well); a route of exposure (eating, drinking, breathing, or touching), and a receptor population (people potentially or actually exposed). When all five parts are present, the exposure pathway is termed a completed exposure pathway.\n\n9. The physical course a chemical takes from the source to the organism exposed. [EPA Exposure Factors Handbook: Glossary]\n\n10. The course a contaminant takes from its source to the exposed individual. A complete exposure pathway generally requires four elements: (1) a source and mechanism of release, (2) a retention or transport medium, (3) a point of potential human contact with the contaminant (referred to as the exposure point), and (4) an exposure route (e.g., external gamma irradiation, ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption). If any of these elements is missing, the exposure pathway is considered incomplete.\n\n11. Way in which a person is exposed to radiation. The three basic pathways are inhalation (breathing), ingestion (eating or drinking), and external exposure (from outside the body).\n\n12. The course a chemical or physical agent takes from a source to an exposed organism. An exposure pathway includes a source and release from a source, an exposure point, and an exposure route. If the exposure point differs from the source, a transport/exposure medium (e.g., air) or media (in cases of intermedia transfer) also is included. [EPA 2004]\n\n13. The path from sources of pollutants via soil, water, or food to man and other species or settings. [EPA 2005b]\n\n14. The physical course a pesticide takes from the source to the organism exposed (e.g., through food or drinking water consumption or residential pesticide uses). [EPA 2005e]\n\n15. The course an agent takes from the source to the target. [IPCS 2004]\n\n16. The process by which an individual is exposed to contaminants or disease organisms that originate from a specified source. An exposure pathway consists of the following five elements: source of contamination, environmental media and transport mechanisms, point of exposure, route of exposure, and receptor population. [NYS 1998]\n\n17. Physical course (e.g. through the air, or through drinking water) that a chemical takes from its emission by the facility to the exposed individual and is related to the type of release.\n\n18. Mode through which one is exposed to a chemical substance, including but not limited to: Food, water, soil, and air",
  "subject": "Health and safety",
  "references": [
    "Waste and Cleanup Risk Assessment Glossary",
    "RCRA Glossary of Terms; Terms of Environment; EPA 2005b",
    "Exposure Factors Handbook: Glossary",
    "Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) Glossary",
    "Radiation Protection Radiation Glossary",
    "EPA 2004",
    "EPA 2005e",
    "ATSDR 2004; CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Glossary of Terms",
    "40 CFR 702.33 (CFR 2024)",
    "DOE Office of Legacy Management Glossary",
    "Thesaurus of Terms Used in Microbial Risk Assessment",
    "Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators Glossary",
    "40 CFR 702.33 (CFR 2019)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/exposure-pathway/"
}