Most poisonings occur via the __________ route.

• A. Ingestion
• B. Injection
• C. Inhalation
• D. Absorption

Answer: (A)

Exposure routes matter because they describe how a toxin enters the body, and ingestion is the most common way poisons enter. Many poisonings happen when a toxic substance is swallowed—children accidentally ingest medicines, cleaners, or other household chemicals, and adults may overdose or misdose. After swallowing, the toxin goes into the gastrointestinal tract where it is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to systemic effects. Other routes—breathing in fumes, absorbing a substance through the skin, or being injected—do occur, but they account for fewer poisoning cases overall. Inhalation can cause rapid effects with volatile substances, skin absorption matters for certain pesticides or chemicals, and injection is less common and usually tied to specific situations. But for the majority of poisonings, ingestion is the leading route.