Which term describes the body's adaptation to exposures over time, resulting in a diminished response to the same dose?

• A. Exposure Routes
• B. Health Hazard
• C. Tolerance and sensitivity
• D. Non-threshold

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how the body adjusts to repeated exposure so the same amount of substance produces a smaller effect. This is called tolerance. It can develop through various mechanisms, such as changes at the receptor level (desensitization or downregulation) or faster metabolism that reduces the substance’s impact. This explains why a dose that once had a strong effect may become less effective over time. The other terms don’t describe this adaptation: exposure routes are how a substance enters the body, health hazard is a general risk concept, and non-threshold refers to a risk assessment idea about whether even tiny amounts can cause harm.