Which factor affects how much pesticide your skin absorbs?

Which factor affects how much pesticide your skin absorbs?

• A. The chemical's properties
• B. The level of physical activity
• C. The time of day
• D. The color of the container

Answer: (A)

The amount pesticide your skin absorbs is determined mainly by the chemical’s properties that control its ability to penetrate skin. Factors like molecular size and how easily the chemical dissolves in fats (lipids) versus water determine how well it can move through the outer skin layer, the stratum corneum. Formulation also matters— solvents and surfactants can help carry the chemical through or disrupt the skin barrier, increasing absorption. If a chemical is very oily and small, it can pass through more readily; if it’s large or primarily water-loving, it may cross the skin more slowly.

Time of day and the color of the container don’t influence how the chemical crosses skin directly. Level of physical activity can affect absorption indirectly through changes in skin temperature and sweating, but the chemical’s inherent properties largely set the absorption potential.