Which of the following correctly pairs an inhalation hazard with a health effect?

• A. Silica dust — silicosis and lung cancer
• B. Ammonia gas — skin cancer
• C. Benzene — asthma
• D. Asbestos — liver failure

Answer: (A)

Inhalation hazards have health effects that are specific to the substance involved. Silica dust, when breathed in over time, deposits in the lungs and can cause silicosis, a fibrotic lung disease; crystalline silica is also a known carcinogen, increasing the risk of lung cancer. This makes the pairing of silica dust with silicosis and lung cancer the best match.

Ammonia gas inhalation primarily irritates the eyes, nose, and airways and can cause chemical burns at higher exposures; skin cancer is not a typical outcome. Benzene inhalation is mainly linked to blood disorders, including bone marrow suppression and leukemia, rather than asthma. Asbestos inhalation leads to asbestosis and mesothelioma, among other lung effects; liver failure is not a characteristic consequence.