What best describes the term 'ingestion' in the context of pesticide exposure?

In the context of pesticide exposure, 'ingestion' specifically refers to the act of swallowing pesticide substances. This type of exposure occurs when a person consumes food or beverages that have been contaminated with pesticides, or when they accidentally swallow pesticide products themselves. Understanding ingestion is crucial for safety, as it highlights the importance of handling pesticides with care to prevent accidental consumption.

The other options depict different types of pesticide exposure: breathing in pesticide vapors relates to inhalation, touching contaminated surfaces refers to dermal exposure, and applying chemicals on the skin is also a form of dermal exposure. Each of these routes presents specific risks and requires different safety measures, but ingestion is unique in that it involves consuming the substance, which can lead to serious health effects.