Altistumiset

Altistumiset is a Finnish term meaning "exposures," commonly used in contexts of health, safety and environmental science to describe instances in which people, animals, or ecosystems come into contact with physical, chemical, biological or psychosocial hazards. The concept covers duration, frequency, intensity and route of contact (inhalation, ingestion, dermal, or other pathways) and is central to risk assessment and public health surveillance.

In occupational health, altistumiset are monitored to prevent work-related illnesses from chemicals, noise, radiation, ergonomic stressors or infectious agents. In environmental health, the term applies to community-level contact with pollutants, contaminated water or soil, and allergenic or infectious agents. In clinical and epidemiological contexts, altistumiset can refer to exposures to pathogens (for example during an outbreak) or to allergens and medications.

Assessment of altistumiset typically involves identifying the hazard, estimating the dose and exposure scenario, and evaluating vulnerability of the exposed population. Methods include environmental sampling, biomonitoring, questionnaires and modelling. Health effects range from acute poisoning and infections to chronic conditions such as cancer, respiratory disease or mental health impacts related to long-term stressors.

Prevention and control rely on exposure reduction through engineering controls, personal protective equipment, administrative measures, public health interventions and regulatory limits. Monitoring and reporting systems aim to track altistumiset, inform policy and guide targeted interventions to reduce harm.