Quantitative exposure assessment

For most consumer products or materials, there are three major routes of exposure, i.e., ways in which a material can interact with the human body: the material can be ingested, it can be inhaled, or it can come into contact with the skin. A fourth relevant route of exposure is through the mucosa, that, for household laundry and cleaning products, practically means only contact with the eyes. Not all of these routes of exposure are relevant to all exposure situations. For example, most cleaning products come into contact with skin in a variety of ways during the normal use of the product. Conversely, household cleaning products are not intended for use in the eyes. Therefore, if a person is exposed by this route, it is usually the result of an accident with the product and the exposure is occasional to rare (most frequently it is a single, not repeated event) Other routes of exposure such as intravenous, intramuscular, or intradermal, are not relevant for consumer products other than drugs.

1. Skin contact
2. Inhalation
3. Ingestion from surfaces of dishware (for dishwashing products only) Accidental ingestion
2. Eye exposure Long term ingestion via the drinking water