Which inhalant is described as extremely corrosive and capable of destroying lung tissue on contact?

Which inhalant is described as extremely corrosive and capable of destroying lung tissue on contact?

• A. Phosgene
• B. Chlorine
• C. Carbon Monoxide
• D. Cyanide

Answer: (A)

Think about inhaled agents that cause direct chemical injury to the lungs. The substance described as extremely corrosive and capable of destroying lung tissue on contact is phosgene. It reacts with water in the respiratory tract to form hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide, creating a chemical burn to the airways and the alveolar membranes. This leads to chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, often with symptoms that can be delayed after exposure, making the tissue destruction in the lungs a hallmark feature. Chlorine, while a powerful irritant that can inflame and swell the airways, does not typify the same direct tissue-destruction mechanism in the lungs. Carbon monoxide and cyanide cause life-threatening systemic toxicity by impairing oxygen delivery and cellular respiration, not by burning lung tissue on contact.

Think about inhaled agents that cause direct chemical injury to the lungs. The substance described as extremely corrosive and capable of destroying lung tissue on contact is phosgene. It reacts with water in the respiratory tract to form hydrochloric acid and carbon dioxide, creating a chemical burn to the airways and the alveolar membranes. This leads to chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema, often with symptoms that can be delayed after exposure, making the tissue destruction in the lungs a hallmark feature.

Chlorine, while a powerful irritant that can inflame and swell the airways, does not typify the same direct tissue-destruction mechanism in the lungs. Carbon monoxide and cyanide cause life-threatening systemic toxicity by impairing oxygen delivery and cellular respiration, not by burning lung tissue on contact.