exposure
Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time
In food safety, “exposure” refers to the amount of a substance, contaminant, or microorganism that a person consumes through food. It is essentially a measure of how much of a potential hazard enters the body over a certain period, for example, daily or weekly.
EFSA uses exposure assessments to estimate the risk associated with different hazards. By combining data on the levels of a substance in food with information on how much of those foods people typically eat, EFSA can determine how much of a chemical, contaminant, or microbe individuals are likely to be exposed to. This information helps EFSA decide whether the exposure is safe or if measures are needed to reduce it and protect public health..