# Exposure Pathway **Entity class:** Hazard-to-receptor route ## Definition An **exposure pathway** is the route by which a hazard reaches a receptor. For penetrating radiation, the pathway is shaped by source, propagation, distance, timing, geometry, intervening materials, and shielding. In biological or contamination contexts, a person may also transport a hazard and become a vector; that is a distinct relationship. ## Relationships - **connects:** [[wiki/Radiation Transport Field|Radiation Transport Field]] to the [[wiki/Receptor Layer|Receptor Layer]]. - **determines with duration and response:** [[wiki/Absorbed Dose|Absorbed Dose]]. - **person-scale use:** [[wiki/Person-Scale Exposure Estimation|Person-Scale Exposure Estimation]]. ## Sources / Provenance - [Oden Institute — DTRA radiation-effects project](https://oden.utexas.edu/news-and-events/news/minimizing-uncertainty-in-uncertain-world-of-defense-energy/)