That EPA rule was designed for a lifetime of exposure, the IAEA guideline for short-term exposure.

FORBES: EPA Draft Stirs Fears of Radically Relaxed Radiation Guidelines

Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of 1, 4-dioxane has caused vertigo, drowsiness, headache, anorexia and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs in humans.

FORBES: Responsible Investing: Is Pall 'Leading' in Water Filtration? (Governor Snyder's Hometown has a 1,4 Dioxane Problem)

It delivers sand under long-term, "take or pay" contracts that reduce the company's exposure to short-term fluctuations in the price of sand.

WSJ: For IPO Market, Sand, Then Vacation

Short-term and long-term game exposure does appear to produce strategy changes.

FORBES: Do Video Games Make You Smarter? Maybe Not.

You can get the currency exposure either by purchasing short-term paper issued by the flaky government in question or by taking a long position in the futures market for that currency.

FORBES: Russian Roulette Investing

Earlier this year, Pimco, a unit of Allianz SE, said it plans to reduce its exposure to emerging markets over the short term, fearing Europe's problems were already affecting emerging markets.

WSJ: Pimco's Guiding Asia-Pacific's Investor Evolution: Ki Myung Hong

"Every nation's economy is embedded within its environment, and our new environment ratings could provide a useful tool for investors seeking to reduce their exposure to both short and long-term risks, " Dr Prescott suggests.

BBC: Rio: Rating the environmental stars