What does chronic exposure refer to?

Chronic exposure refers to long-term and sustained effects resulting from repeated or continuous exposure to a hazardous substance or condition over an extended period. This type of exposure can lead to gradual health deterioration and the development of diseases that may not become apparent until years later. For example, workers exposed to asbestos fibers over many years may develop lung diseases such as asbestosis or mesothelioma long after their exposure has ceased.

In contrast, immediate and short-term effects would relate to acute exposure, where symptoms appear shortly after exposure and typically resolve once the exposure is removed. Temporary conditions would suggest that health effects occur briefly and then resolve fully without long-lasting consequences. Seasonal reactions would refer to effects that are influenced by specific times of the year, rather than a continuous exposure over time. Therefore, the concept of chronic exposure is specifically tied to long-term impacts rather than these other types of exposure effects.