Howard's chemical burn from accidentally spilling a strong basic cleaning solution onto his arm, which caused a small burn mark that resolved after a few weeks with no other symptoms, is considered an acute exposure. This is because it was a single, short-term incident resulting in immediate effects that healed over time without ongoing symptoms
. Explanation:
- Acute exposure refers to a single or brief exposure to a chemical that causes immediate or short-term effects, such as a burn that appears quickly and heals within weeks
- Chronic exposure involves repeated or prolonged contact with a chemical over a longer period, often leading to cumulative or delayed health effects, which is not the case here.
- The burn being small and resolving without further symptoms indicates it was not severe or deadly exposure.
- Chemical burns from strong bases are a known type of chemical injury, and the severity depends on the chemical concentration, exposure duration, and first aid received
Thus, Howard's situation fits the definition of an acute chemical exposure causing a minor chemical burn.
