Permeation contaminants are described as

• A. Easy to detect and remove
• B. Difficult or impossible to detect and remove
• C. Direct contamination
• D. Teratogenic/embryotoxic

Answer: (B)

Permeation is the process by which a chemical moves through a protective barrier at the molecular level over time, so contamination can reach the wearer’s interior without obvious signs on the outside. Many permeants are odorless or colorless and can pass through materials even when the outer surface looks intact, making detection inside the PPE very difficult. Because the contaminant can be inside the barrier or on the skin after breakthrough, simply wiping the exterior or wiping surfaces may not remove it; proper decontamination and often replacing PPE are required. This is why permeation contaminants are described as difficult or impossible to detect and remove.