What is a common characteristic of a respiratory irritant in cleaning products?

A common characteristic of a respiratory irritant in cleaning products is the presence of volatile compounds. These compounds can easily evaporate into the air and may lead to irritation when inhaled. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often found in various cleaning products, paints, and solvents, and they can cause various respiratory issues and other health effects.

The presence of these substances is significant because they not only irritate the respiratory tract but also can lead to long-term health issues if exposure occurs repeatedly or at high concentrations. Understanding the role of volatile compounds is crucial for ensuring safety when using cleaning products and for choosing those that minimize health risks.

Other options, such as being non-toxic, oil-based, or environmentally friendly, do not inherently correlate with respiratory irritation. Non-toxic products may not contain irritating compounds, oil-based products can also be formulated with lower irritants, and environmentally friendly products are designed to reduce harm to health and the environment, often having lower levels of volatile compounds.