Which statement about skin absorption and pesticide poisoning is supported by the material?

• A. 80 percent
• B. 20 percent
• C. 50 percent
• D. 100 percent

Answer: (A)

Dermal absorption is a major route of pesticide poisoning because the skin is the body's largest organ and often comes into direct contact with chemicals during handling and application. Pesticides can penetrate skin quickly, especially in liquid form or when solvents are present, and a large surface area plus exposure duration can lead to a substantial absorbed dose. The material you studied indicates that about 80 percent of the absorbed dose from dermal exposure can come through skin contact, which is why this figure is the one supported. This highlights the importance of protective measures—gloves, long sleeves, proper handling, and thorough washing—to minimize the amount absorbed through the skin.

Twenty percent would understate the typical contribution of skin to absorbed dose, fifty percent could be true in some limited cases but isn’t the standard figure given, and one hundred percent would incorrectly imply skin is the only route of exposure, ignoring other pathways like inhalation or ingestion.