Which class of chemical agents causes skin blistering and eye irritation requiring irrigation?

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

Answer: (A)

Vesicants are blister agents that cause skin blistering and eye irritation requiring irrigation. These chemicals, such as sulfur mustard or Lewisite, produce chemical burns on exposed skin and mucous membranes. The injury to the skin leads to painful blisters, and the eyes can develop irritation and conjunctival damage; rapid flushing or irrigation is essential to remove the agent and limit injury.

Other classes don’t fit this presentation as well. Pulmonary agents primarily damage the respiratory tract, causing coughing, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema rather than skin blisters. Blood agents disrupt cellular respiration and cause rapid hypoxia without the hallmark skin or eye blistering. Biological agents involve living organisms or toxins that cause infection or systemic illness, not the chemical burns and mucous membrane irritation seen with vesicants.