Which category is primarily involved in causing respiratory tract irritation with symptoms such as dyspnea and cough?

• A. Vesicants
• B. Blood agents
• C. Pulmonary agents
• D. Biological agents

Answer: (C)

Pulmonary agents are inhaled substances that irritate the lining of the airways and lungs. When breathed in, they inflame the mucous membranes, can trigger bronchospasm, and may cause edema in the airways or lung tissue. This combination of airway irritation and swelling commonly presents with coughing and shortness of breath. Some pulmonary agents, like chlorine, cause immediate irritation, while others such as phosgene can produce a delayed lung edema, but the key feature remains respiratory tract irritation with dyspnea and coughing. Vesicants primarily affect skin and eyes, blood agents disrupt cellular respiration without primary airway irritation, and biological agents cause infection and systemic illness rather than immediate airway irritation.