What term describes agents that can cause harm by causing physical damage through inhalation or contact?

The correct choice is chemical agents because they specifically refer to substances that can cause harm to humans through interactions with biological systems, leading to physical damage. These agents can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested, and they often include a wide range of toxic compounds, such as gases, vapors, and liquids. Inhalation exposure can cause immediate and serious health effects, making the understanding of chemical agents essential for emergency response, particularly in situations like hazardous material incidents or chemical warfare.

Blood agents, while also harmful, specifically target the bloodstream and interfere with oxygen transfer, so they fall under a narrower category. Biological agents involve living organisms or their toxins that can cause disease, rather than direct physical harm through contact or inhalation. Environmental agents typically refer to factors that can adversely affect health and wellbeing, such as pollution or extreme weather, but they don’t specifically denote harmful substances in the way that chemical agents do. Hence, chemical agents are the most accurate description for substances that cause harm through direct physical means.