Which are exposure routes for contaminants?

• A. Ingestion, inhalation, and direct contact
• B. Surface water exposure
• C. Wind transport
• D. Groundwater transport

Answer: (A)

Exposure routes are the ways people come into contact with contaminants. The classic routes are ingestion (swallowing contaminants through food, water, or objects), inhalation (breathing in contaminated air, dust, or aerosols), and dermal contact (skin or mucous membranes touching contaminated media). These are the direct pathways by which exposure occurs, not just how contaminants move through the environment. The other options describe environmental media or transport processes—surface water, wind, or groundwater—that can carry contaminants to a location, but they are not themselves the routes by which a person is exposed.