Which AEGL level indicates irreversible or other serious, long-lasting adverse health effects or an impaired ability to escape?

• A. AEGL-1
• B. AEGL-2
• C. AEGL-3
• D. AEGL-0

Answer: (B)

AEGL levels describe stages of effect severity during an acute exposure, with increasing concern from mild to more serious outcomes. The level that corresponds to irreversible or other serious, long-lasting health effects or an impaired ability to escape is the middle tier. It captures effects that are not simply mild or reversible, yet do not involve immediate life-threatening outcomes. The phrase “irreversible or serious, long-lasting effects or an impaired ability to escape” defines this level precisely, sitting between mild reversible effects and potential fatal outcomes. The highest level covers life-threatening or death, while a lower level covers only minor, reversible signs. The option that doesn’t fit the standard scale, often noted as a no-effect marker, isn’t used to describe a threshold of harm. So the described level aligns with the middle tier of AEGLs.