Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper) Spray and “In-Custody Deaths”

Steffee, C. H.; Lantz, Patrick E.; Flannagan, Lisa M.; Thompson, Robert L.; Jason, Donald R.

doi:10.1097/00000433-199509000-00001

Cited by 102 publications

(63 citation statements)

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“…Capsaicin is used clinically to induce cough (Morice et al, 2001) and to treat rhinitis (van Rijswijk and Gerth van Wijk, 2006). However, numerous case reports have described adverse respiratory effects and death in humans following exposures to concentrated capsaicinoid aerosols (Heck, 1995;Steffee et al, 1995;Billmire et al, 1996). In animal models, high doses of capsaicin cause acute respiratory and cardiovascular failure, independently of the route of administration (Glinsukon et al, 1980).…”

Section: N-(4-tert-butylbentyl)-nј-[3-fluoro-4-(methylsulfonylamino)bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Agonists Cause Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Cell Death in Human Lung Cells

Thomas

Sabnis

Johansen

et al. 2007

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

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Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a calciumselective ion channel expressed in human lung cells. We show that activation of the intracellular subpopulation of TRPV1 causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death in human bronchial epithelial and alveolar cells. TRPV1 agonist (nonivamide) treatment caused calcium release from the ER and altered the transcription of growth arrest-and DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (GADD153), GADD45␣, GRP78/BiP, ATF3, CCND1, and CCNG2) in a manner comparable with prototypical ER stress-inducing agents. The TRPV1 antagonist -328) inhibited mRNA responses and cytotoxicity. EGTA and ruthenium red inhibited cell surface TRPV1 activity, but they did not prevent ER stress gene responses or cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity paralleled eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, subunit 1 (EIF2␣) phosphorylation and the induction of GADD153 mRNA and protein. Transient overexpression of GADD153 caused cell death independent of agonist treatment, and cells selected for stable overexpression of a GADD153 dominant-negative mutant exhibited reduced sensitivity. Salubrinal, an inhibitor of ER stress-induced cytotoxicity via the EIF2␣K3/EIF2␣ pathway, or stable overexpression of the EIF2␣-S52A dominant-negative mutant also inhibited cell death. Treatment of the TRPV1-null human embryonic kidney 293 cell line with TRPV1 agonists did not initiate ER stress responses. Likewise, n-benzylnonanamide, an inactive analog of nonivamide, failed to cause ER calcium release, an increase in GADD153 expression, and cytotoxicity. We conclude that activation of ER-bound TRPV1 and stimulation of GADD153 expression via the EIF2␣K3/EIF2␣ pathway represents a common mechanism for cytotoxicity by cell-permeable TRPV1 agonists. These findings are significant within the context of lung inflammatory diseases where elevated concentrations of endogenous TRPV1 agonists are probably produced in sufficient quantities to cause TRPV1 activation and lung cell death.

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Section: N-(4-tert-butylbentyl)-nј-[3-fluoro-4-(methylsulfonylamino)bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Agonists Cause Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Cell Death in Human Lung Cells

Thomas

Sabnis

Johansen

et al. 2007

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

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“…Co-ingestants by the patient, in particular sympathomimetics, chronic disease states, contact lens, and the ability to promptly and thoroughly irrigate exposed areas may impact the severity. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] For a given case it may be difficult to ascertain all risk factors, so we used broad categories to characterize exposure circumstances and determine if any were prognosticators for more severe outcomes. The presence of law enforcement in our study was a predictor of higher risk for adverse outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,3 Bronchospasm and laryngospasm have been reported, including one reported death. 11,12 The effects on airway resistance are variable and often noted as transient. 5 It has not been shown that asthmatics are at higher risk for OC-induced bronchospasm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Case reports and epidemiologic studies have identified an association between pepper spray exposures and ocular injuries (i.e., corneal erosions, abrasions, and ulcers), pulmonary edema and brochospasm, and deaths. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The prevalence of serious medical outcomes and requirement for medical evaluation in pepper spray exposures has ranged from 2.7 to 15%. 6,10,14,15 We reviewed human exposures to pepper spray reported to the California Poison Control System with the goal to determine the severity of pepper sprayrelated adverse health events.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pepper Spray Injury Severity: Ten-year Case Experience of a Poison Control System

Kearney¹,

Hiatt²,

Birdsall³

et al. 2014

Prehospital Emergency Care

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Background. Pepper spray is a common lacrimator used by law enforcement and the public to subdue individuals and for self-defense. The risk factors for severe injury due to pepper spray exposure are not well documented and there is a lack of guidelines to identify patients that require transport and medical evaluation in an emergency department. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and circumstances associated with symptoms suggestive of tissue injury beyond transient irritation in persons exposed to pepper spray. Methods. We reviewed all human exposures to pepper spray reported to a poison control system between 2002 and 2011. Cases were differentiated into 2 outcome groups: minor or self-limiting symptoms versus those with more severe symptoms suggestive of tissue injury that warranted a medical evaluation. A comparison of the variables between the outcome groups was performed using odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and associated P values. Results. A total of 4,544 cases were identified and 3,671 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 249 cases (6.8%) were found to have more severe symptoms that warranted a medical evaluation. There were no reported deaths. The cases with more severe symptoms most commonly involved the ocular (53.8%), respiratory (31.7%), and dermal (17.7%) organ systems. Factors with largest independent associations with more severe outcomes were use for law enforcement training (OR, 7.39; 95% CI,, direct intentional exposure for purposeful use to incapacitate (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.80-5.06), and for law enforcement on individual target suspects or crowd control (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.42-4.23). Conclusions. There was a low 1 in 15 potential risk for more severe adverse health effects in persons exposed to pepper spray that warranted a medical evaluation.

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“…Postmortem examination revealed severe epithelial lung damage, and the cause of death was noted as severe acute bronchospasm, probably precipitated by the use of pepper spray [4].…”

Section: Acute and Chronic Effects Of Human Exposure To Oc And Csmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Tear Gases on the Pulmonary System

Arbak¹

2013

Tur Toraks Der

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The acute effects of tear gases such as oleoresincapsicum and 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile are well known. Tear gases cause incapacitating inflammatory response in various tissues and organs including the lungs, eyes, nose, throat, skin and others. The final results on the pulmonary system are toxic pneumonitis, asthma aggravation, bronchitis, and rhinitis. Long term effects are irritant induced asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders. The best way to reduce the hazardous effects of these gases is not to use them at all. Key words: Tear gases, respiratory effects, lung diseasesOleoresincapsicum ve 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile gibi göz yaşartan gazların akut etkileri iyi bilinmektedir. Göz yaşartan gazlar akciğerler, gözler, burun, boğaz, cildi içeren çeşitli doku ve organlarda güçsüz bırakan yangısal yanıta yol açmaktadırlar. Solunum sistemi üstündeki son sonuçlar toksik pnömonitis, astım alevlenmesi, bronşit ve rinittir. Uzun dönemli etkileri ise irritanla indüklenen astım, kronik obstrüktif solunumsal hastalıklardır. Bu gazların zararlı etkilerini azaltmanın en iyi yolu onları hiç kullanmamaktır. AnAhtAr sözcüKler: Göz yaşartan gazlar, solunumsal etkiler, akciğer hastalıkları IntrodUctIonThe Turkish Police Department reported that they mostly used Oleoresincapsicum (OC) and 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) as tear gases for controlling protest actions [1]. OC is an organic resin derived from the pepper plant and its toxicological effect is mainly dependent on the amount of capsiacinoids in it. The capsaicinoid content determines the "hotness" of the OC product, measured in Scoville units. OC for nonlethal weapon formulas can differ in potency from 16000 Scoville Heat Units (S.H.U) to1.5 million units, with a 5-10% solution generally recommended as an effective dose [2]. When used, OC causes incapacitating inflammatory response in various tissues and organs including the lungs, eyes, nose, throat, skin and others [3]. OC leads to wheezing, dry cough, shortness of breath, gasping, difficulty in breathing or speaking due to laryngospasm and rarely cyanosis, apnoea, and respiratory arrest in the respiratory system [4].Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile is a white crystalline substance that is usually mixed with the other compounds in a grenade or canister for use. The preferable form for scattering populations is intended to be a smoke or fog of suspended particles. Being an extremely severe skin and mucous membrane irritant and lacrimator, even at minute doses, CS is found to be effective for controlling crowds [5]. Respiratory symptoms due to CS are nasal irritation, rhinorrhea, coughing and shortness of breath [6]. The effects of CS usually start after 20 to 60 seconds of exposure and resolve within 30 minutes [7]. Animal studies showed that the respiratory concentration of CS 25000 to 150000 mg/m 3 per minute would be lethal for 50% of healthy adults. When used outside, a CS grenade produces a cloud 6-9 meters in diameter, the highest CS concentration of 2000 to 5000 mg/m 3 is detected a...

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Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper) Spray and “In-Custody Deaths”

Cited by 102 publications

References 0 publications

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Agonists Cause Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Cell Death in Human Lung Cells

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Agonists Cause Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Cell Death in Human Lung Cells

Pepper Spray Injury Severity: Ten-year Case Experience of a Poison Control System

Effects of Tear Gases on the Pulmonary System

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