Swallowing a pesticide usually creates the most serious problem. In practice, however, the most common route of absorption of pesticides is through the skin. Duration of exposure. The longer a person is exposed, the more chemical their body absorbs. Physical and chemical properties.
Some pesticides evaporate more readily than others, so they can be more easily inhaled.
Some break down quickly on surfaces, others last longer. These qualities affect the potential risk of overexposure. Population at risk. Persons who run the greatest danger of pesticide illness are those whose exposure is highest, such as workers who mix or apply pesticides. However, consumers who use pesticides in their homes may also be overexposed, especially if they do not follow carefully the instructions on the container label.