Tear gas--harassing agent or toxic chemical weapon?

Abstract

Tear gas has gained widespread acceptance as a means of controlling civilian crowds and subduing barricaded criminals. The most widely used forms of tear gas have been o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile and omega-chloroacetophenone. Proponents of their use claim that, if used correctly, the noxious effects of exposure are transient and of no long-term consequences. The use of tear gas in recent situations of civil unrest, however, demonstrates that exposure to the weapon is difficult to control and indiscriminate, and the weapon is often not used correctly. Severe traumatic injury from exploding tear gas bombs as well as lethal toxic injury have been documented. Moreover, available toxicological data are deficient as to the potential of tear gas agents to cause long-term pulmonary, carcinogenic, and reproductive effects. Published and recent unpublished in vitro tests have shown o-chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile to be both clastogenic and mutagenic. Sadly, the nature of its use renders analytic epidemiologic investigation of exposed persons difficult. In 1969, eighty countries voted to include tear gas agents among chemical weapons banned under the Geneva Protocol. There is an ongoing need for investigation into the full toxicological potential of tear gas chemicals and renewed debate on whether their use can be condoned under any circumstances.

Effects of Tear Gases on the Pulmonary System

“…Symptoms related to CS are exacerbated in hot or humid weather. Some agglomerates or water repellent forms of CS (known as CS1 and CS2) can remain active for days to weeks in the environment [5]. In healthy male volunteers, a reduction in exercise ventilation volume was noted after exposure to CS aerosols under controlled conditions, but prolonged high exposure to CS in confined spaces could result in respiratory tract inflammatory changes and associated secondary infection.…”

“…An infant exposed to CS in a house developed severe pneumonitis requiring therapy with steroids, oxygen, and antibiotics [34,35]. Hu et al [5] reviewed tear gas, especially CS. The authors visited Seoul, South Korea, in July 1987.…”

“…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].…”

Study on the Analysis of Capsaicin Glucuronide in Rat Urine by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry after Enzymatic Hydrolysis

“…1] is one of the main pungent ingredients, or capsaicinoids, in oleoresin capsicum extractable from oily hot peppers included in pepper. [1][2][3] These capsaicinoids are used in lacrymating pepper spray, 4,5) and recently, crimes such as robbery, pickpocketing and rape using tear gas sprays have been increasing. Forensic toxicologists must identify such causative toxic substances in their forensic investigations.…”

El Uso De Gases Lacrimogenos en Chile: Normativa Internacional Y Nacional Vigente Y Jurisprudencia Reciente

“…El chorro usado por los carros lanzagua para dispersar los gases tienen una fuerza tal que puede lesionar gravemente a un individuo 13 . Las granadas arrojadas con la mano estallan, lanzando alrede-12 Hu et al (1989), p. 661. 13 A modo de ejemplo puede mencionarse el caso de la alumna de la Universidad Austral de Chile Carolina Ángulo, quien sufrió un paro cardiorespiratorio tras ser impactada por el chorro del carro lanzagua en 2008.…”