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Some chemical irritants causing acute inhalation injury: their effects and sources of exposure

Agent	Characteristics	Effects	Source of Exposure
Ammonia	Highly water soluble; colorless; sharp, pungent odor	Highly irritating to eyes and upper airways; upper airway obstruction, such as laryngeal edema, bronchospasm and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema may occur	Agriculture (mostly fertilizers); plastics, pesticides, explosives and detergents manufacture; refrigerants, home cleaning products
Hydrogen chloride	Highly water soluble; colorless to slightly yellow; pungent odor	Laryngeal edema, tracheobronchitis	Dyes, fertilizers, textiles, rubber manufacture; metal ore refining; meat wrappers
Hydrogen sulfide	Slightly water soluble; colorless; rotten egg odor (sewer or swamp gas)	Airway irritant and chemical asphyxiant	Decaying organic matter, in sewer and barns; petroleum refining, viscose rayon, rubber and mining industries; hot-asphalt paving
Hydrogen fluoride	Highly water soluble; colorless; pungent odor; corrosive	Chemical pneumonitis; can cause clinically important hypocalcemia	Phosphate fertilizer, metal refining and etching, glass and ceramic etching, microelectronic, masonry, pharmaceuticals, chemical manufacture; rust removal agents
Sulfur dioxide	Highly water soluble; colorless; pungent odor	Bronchoconstriction, airway edema, asthma, bacterial pneumonitis, bronchiolitis obliterans	Airway pollution, burning of oil and coal,smelting, power plants, wineries, paper manufacture, chemical manufacture, food preparation
Chlorine	Intermediate water solubility; greenish yellow noncombustible gas	Tracheobronchitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome	Household cleaners (household accidents involving the inappropriate mixing of hypochlorite cleaning solutions with acidic agents), paper production, sewage treatment, swimming pool maintenance, chemical manufacture, disinfection, chemical warfare
Oxides of nitrogen	Low water solubility; nearly colorless; a sharp sweet smelling (nitric oxide), strong harsh odor (nitrogen dioxide)	Bronchoconstriction, airway edema, asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans	Agriculture (Silo filler’s disease); manufacture of dyes, lacquers and fertilizer; firefighters; welding, air pollution, hockey rinks
Phosgene	Low water solubility; colorless; musty odor at room temperature	Mild upper airway irritation, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema	Firefighters, welding, paint strippers, chemical warfare; Phosgene is used an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes, insecticides, plastics and pharmaceuticals; household substances such as solvents, paint removers and dry cleaning fluid can produce phosgene when exposed to heat or fire