What is an effect of ammonia exposure on the airway?

Ammonia exposure is primarily associated with acute upper airway irritation. When ammonia, a highly irritating gas, comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, it can cause immediate discomfort, inflammation, and irritation. Symptoms can include burning sensation in the throat, coughing, choking, and a runny nose due to the stimulation of sensory nerve endings in the upper airway. This response is due to the high solubility of ammonia, which allows it to rapidly affect the upper respiratory structures, leading to the symptoms associated with acute irritation.

In contrast, the other options refer to effects that do not align with the immediate and localized nature of ammonia's impact on the respiratory system. Chronic cough and asthma attacks would typically involve more prolonged exposure or conditions that affect the lower airways, while acute lower airway irritation can happen with different types of inhaled irritants that are less soluble than ammonia.