Inhalation and absorption of toxic agents:

The inhalation and absorption of toxic agents through the lungs is dependent upon the solubility in body fluids, diffusion by the lungs, the volume of inhalation, the volume of blood in the lungs, or the concentration gradient of vapors among the inhaled air and the blood.

Ingestion of the toxic agent could occur to a few extents; therefore, there would commonly be considerable inhalation of the material whereas like conditions exist.

Absorption by the skin could occur upon exposure to a few toxic agents. A few liquids and vapors are known to pass by the skin in concentrations high sufficient such which respiratory protection is not adequate.  For instance, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is known to pass by the unbroken skin. Consideration should be provided to the category of work clothes being worn; if they become saturated along with solvents that will act as a reservoir to bathe the body continually along with the harmful material.

Many volatile (simply vaporized) organic compounds are eliminated from the body within a matter of hours or, at most, days.  Several of the poisonous elements, therefore, could be stored for long periods of time in several categories of the body.  Chronic (long term) toxicity damage is unlikely to have an even distribution by the body.  Within toxicity studies along with radioactive isotopes, a organ that suffers the most severe damage and appears to contribute most to the toxic effect on the body as a overall, is known as the critical organ. A particular organ which displays a largest amount of damage is the one which is selected for estimating the effect.

Industrial poisoning might be categorized as either acute or chronic. The categorized is based on the rate of intake of harmful materials, rate of onset of symptoms, and the in duration of symptoms.

Acute poisoning is categorized through rapid absorption of the material and rapid, severe exposure. For instance, inhaling high stages of carbon monoxide or swallowing a huge quantity of cyanide compound will generates acute poisoning.  Commonly, acute poisoning results from a single dose that is rapidly absorbed and damages one or more of a vital physiological processes.  A development of cancer long after recovery from acute radiation damage is known as a delayed acute effect.