ɛkspˈoʊʒɚ kæn kˈʌm fɹʌm dᵻɹˈɛkt kˈɑːntækt, bˌʌt ɪt kæn ˈɔːlsoʊ kˈʌm ˈɔfsaɪt baɪ ðɪ ˈɛɹ, fɹʌm sˈɜːfɪs ɔːɹ ɡɹˈaʊndwɔːɾɚ kəntˌæmᵻnˈeɪʃən, ɔːɹ baɪ ðɪ ˈʌpteɪk ʌv tˈɑːksɪnz baɪ plˈænts ænd ˈænɪməlz kənsˈuːmd baɪ hjˈuːmənz.
Exposure can come from direct contact, but it can also come offsite by the air, from surface or groundwater contamination, or by the uptake of toxins by plants and animals consumed by humans.