skin, the respiratory tract and the gastro-intestinal
tract. The total body surface (skin) may be
about 1.8 m2, whereas that of the lungs is generally
up to 90 m 2. Consequently, uptake through
the skin of a vapour is generally insignificant
when compared to that through inhalation. A
dangerous exception occurs in wearing clothing
soaked with a volatile chemical, but the dermal
exposure to vapours will not be considered further.