Table 1.

Exposure routes and some of the most common sources of exposure.

Substance	Route of Exposure	Most Common Source of Exposure
PAHs [7,18,25,27,30,64]	Ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact	Urban areas: fuel combustion, smoking, municipal waste, open burning inside, building materials and furniture Industry: e.g., manufactures with smelting processes, conversing wood pulp to paper, burning coal Nature: volcanic activities, seepage of petroleum and coal, humus and plant leave, roots Drinking water, food: grilling, roasting, frying, meat, fish, milk, contaminated cereals, vegetables
Diisocyanates [8,25,35,36,37]	Inhalation, dermal contact	Foams, sealants, coatings, plastic, medicinal products made, for instance, from polyurethane
Cr(VI) [25,38,69]	Inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact	Food, drinking water, smoking cigarettes, pigments and dyes, cosmetics, orthopaedic implants, leather articles
Pesticides [23,25,43]	Ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact	Direct exposure related to pesticide manufacturing or use Drinking water, food: fruits, vegetables, cereals, lentils, linseeds, soya beans, dry peas, tea, dust (ingested by children)
Phthalates (substance groups and substitute) [6,20,21,47,48,64]	Ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation, intravenously
(1) High molecularweight (HMW) ortho-phthalate in soft-PVC		Fatty food, flooring, wires, cables, sport equipment, toys, coated textiles, footwear, synthetic leather, medical devices
(2) Low molecular weight (LMW) in soft-PVC and other applications		Gelling plasticizers, paints, dispersions, adhesives, cosmetics, solvent in insect repellents
(3) Hexamoll® DINCH		Soft PVC medical devices: blood bags, food contact materials, sports equipment, textile coatings, wallpapers, paints, inks, adhesives, cosmetics and toys
PFASs [9,25,53,54]	Ingestion, inhalation	Contaminants in food and drinking water from production and use: ingredients of surfactants and surface protectors, cooking ware, other food contact materials, cosmetics, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, printing, fire fighting foams
p-PDA [19,25,63]	Dermal contact, inhalation	Cosmetics, hair dyes, tattoo inks
Mercury [25,38,64]	Inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact, injection	Food: fish and seafood Dental amalgams, electrical, medical and laboratory equipment, batteries, pigments, cosmetics (skin creams), incineration, combustion of fossil fuels
Cadmium [25,38,64]	Inhalation, ingestion	Smoking, drinking water Food: seafood, liver, kidney, wild mushrooms, flaxseed, cocoa powder, cereals, potatoes and vegetables (grown on contaminated soil)
Arsenic [13,25,38]	Ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact	Drinking water, food (rice, plant derived food, seafood) Semiconductor and other electronic devices, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, cotton desiccants, paints
Lead [25,38,64]	Inhalation, ingestion, transplacental	Drinking water through systems with lead solder and lead pipes, atmospheric particles, food, lead-based paints and pigments, lead-containing building materials, furniture, leather products, e-waste, herbal and traditional medicines, cosmetics, toys