Ace the 2026 Washington WSDA MPC Exam – Cultivate Your Path to Success!

Exposure type refers to the route by which a pesticide enters the body. Dermal exposure, or skin contact, is the most common route in agricultural exposures because handlers frequently touch treated plants, containers, and equipment, and there can be residues on skin even with gloves and other protection. Skin absorption is a primary way pesticides can enter the body, making dermal exposure the predominant pathway for most cases. Inhalation is another route but occurs less often overall, especially outside of active spraying or mixing. Acute toxicity and chronic toxicity describe the severity and duration of effects, not the route of entry, so they aren’t identifying the exposure type here.