How does aging influence sensitivity to chemicals?

Aging influences sensitivity to chemicals primarily because the body's physiological changes over time can alter how it processes various substances. As individuals age, their metabolic rates can slow down, organ function may decline, and the ability to detoxify and eliminate chemicals can be reduced. This can lead to an increased accumulation of certain chemicals in the body, making older individuals potentially more vulnerable to adverse effects from exposure.

Additionally, older adults may have pre-existing health issues, a compromised immune system, or be on multiple medications, all of which can interact with chemicals more intensely than in younger populations. Therefore, the effects of chemical exposure can indeed escalate with age, making individuals in this group more sensitive overall to various chemical exposures encountered in environments such as salons, beauty products, or chemical treatments.

The other options do not accurately reflect the established understanding of how aging interacts with chemical sensitivity. For instance, while some younger individuals might be sensitive, it is not universally true that they are always more sensitive than older individuals; sensitivity can vary widely based on individual health, genetics, and environmental factors.