Which class irritates the lungs and bronchial tubes, primarily causing pulmonary edema?

• A. Blood Agents
• B. Nerve Agents
• C. Blister Agents
• D. Choking Agents

Answer: (D)

Choking agents irritate the lungs and bronchial passages, causing inflammation and damage to the respiratory lining. This damage increases vascular leakage and fluid buildup in the alveoli, leading to pulmonary edema and impaired gas exchange. That edema is the hallmark of exposure to choking agents, which can produce coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, sometimes with a delayed onset (as with phosgene). This pattern distinguishes choking agents from the other classes: blood agents disrupt cellular respiration systemically, nerve agents interfere with nervous system signaling, and blister agents primarily cause skin and mucous membrane damage rather than edema from lung irritation.