Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68) ICD-10-CM
The J68 code range covers respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors with 8 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 7 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Code First
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
- code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
- acute respiratory failure J96.0
Codes in the J68 Range 8 codes · 7 billable
- J68 Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vaporsNon-billable
- J68.0 Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- J68.1 Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- J68.2 Upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified
- J68.3 Other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- J68.4 Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- J68.8 Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- J68.9 Unspecified respiratory condition due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
About the J68 Code Range
The ICD-10 code section J68 covers respiratory conditions caused specifically by the inhalation of various chemicals, gases, fumes, and vapors. These codes are used to identify different lung and airway diseases directly linked to exposure to harmful inhaled substances.
This group includes codes for acute issues like J68.0, which covers bronchitis and pneumonitis caused by chemical fumes (sometimes called "acute chemical bronchitis" or "pneumonitis caused by inhaled substances"), as well as J68.1, which is used for pulmonary edema induced by chemical exposure (also known as "toxic pulmonary edema"). Upper respiratory tract inflammation from chemicals is captured under J68.2. More specialized conditions such as J68.3 represent reactive airway diseases like chemical-induced asthma or reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. Chronic respiratory damages, including fibrosis and obliterative bronchiolitis from long-term chemical exposure, are classified under J68.4. Other conditions like bronchiectasis due to toxic substance aspiration fall under J68.8, and J68.9 captures unspecified chemical-related respiratory illnesses, sometimes known as Spelters' fever. Using these precise codes helps medical coders accurately document respiratory illnesses resulting from chemical inhalation for effective patient care and tracking. This information is essential when searching for the ICD-10 code for respiratory conditions due to inhaled chemicals, gases, fumes, and vapors.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the J68 range?
Of the 8 codes in this range, 7 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the J68 range classify?
The range classifies respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
