Figure 3

The predominant routes of ENM exposure and uptake, and potential routes of ENM translocation. The four gray shaded boxes indicate the primary routes of ENM exposure. The arrows down from these uptake sites show potential translocation pathways. The translocation pathways are described in more detail in Section II, D. Clearance of ENMs, their translocation to distal sites, and persistence. For example, the lung might be the primary route of exposure or might be a distal site after uptake from another route and translocation to the lung. ENMs might enter the brain from the nasal cavity or from blood, across the blood-brain barrier.