Which practice most clearly increases the risk of transferring pesticide to the mouth after handling?

Which practice most clearly increases the risk of transferring pesticide to the mouth after handling?

• A. Wearing gloves during handling
• B. Washing hands before eating
• C. Handling pesticides only in a closed environment
• D. Eating, Drinking, or Smoking without first washing hands after handling

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that ingestion of pesticide residues happens most easily when you put your hands directly into your mouth or onto food, lips, or cigarettes after handling. If hands aren’t washed, any residues left on the skin can be transferred during eating, drinking, or smoking, leading to ingestion of the chemical. Wearing gloves reduces skin contact, washing hands before eating removes residues, and working only in a closed environment limits exposure—so those practices lower risk. The action that clearly increases risk is eating, drinking, or smoking without first washing hands after handling, because it creates an immediate path for residues to enter the mouth.

The key idea is that ingestion of pesticide residues happens most easily when you put your hands directly into your mouth or onto food, lips, or cigarettes after handling. If hands aren’t washed, any residues left on the skin can be transferred during eating, drinking, or smoking, leading to ingestion of the chemical. Wearing gloves reduces skin contact, washing hands before eating removes residues, and working only in a closed environment limits exposure—so those practices lower risk. The action that clearly increases risk is eating, drinking, or smoking without first washing hands after handling, because it creates an immediate path for residues to enter the mouth.