Harassing agents

For military use, harassing agents are intended to reduce or destroy the effectiveness of enemy troops. For this purpose, rapid onset of effects is usually, but not always, desired. Rapid recovery facilitates the handling of prisoners, whereas men injured by mustard gas require intensive care and weeks for recovery. There were no plans for studying long-term effects of World War I harassing agents. 

Harassing agents causing copious flow of tears and intense eye irritation. 

Harassing agents causing coughing, sneezing, nausea, and temporary physical disability. 

Sanford, J.P. (1976). Medical aspects of riot control (harassing) agents. Annu. Rev. Med. 27 421-9. 

Hu, H., Fine, J., Epstein, P. (1989). Tear gas - harassing agent of toxic chemical weapon JAMA 262 660-3. 

Harassing agents may be defined as chemical substances that are capable when used in field conditions, of rapidly causing a temporary disablement that lasts for little longer than the period of exposure. ... 

The pharmacological requirements for a safe and effective harassing agent must be stringent (it is hardly appropriate to refer to benefit versus risk). As well as potency and rapid onset and offset of effect in open areas under any atmospheric condition, it must be safe in confined spaces where concentration may be very high and may affect an innocent, bedridden invalid should a projectile enter a window. 

Synonyms Tear gas Less-than-lethal Nonlethal Lacrimator, Harassing agent Incapacitant 2-Chloro-l-phenylethanone 2-Chloroacetophe-none, chloroacetophenone, phenacyl chloride Chloromethyl phenyl ketone Chemical Formula CgHyClO Chemical Structure ... 

Tear Gas, less than lethal, nonlethal, immobilizers, irritants, lacrimators, harassing agents, RCAs, crowd control agents (Table 1). 

Hu H, Fine J, Epstein P, Kelsey K, Reynolds P, Walker B.Tear gas—harassing agent or toxic chemical weapon JAMA 1989 Aug 4 262(5) 660-3... 

Incapacitant as a solution and harassing agent as aerosol. Pressurized hand-held canister pyrotechnic grenade. RCA as solution or grenade generated smoke. 

Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum. Extracted from cayenne pepper and paprika proposed as a harassing agent in WWI. Used in pepper sprays. Irritant. Damages sensory nerve endings. 

Carbazole. White flaky solid, mp 68°C, bp 190°C. Insoluble in and little affected by water. Harassing agent used by Germany in WWI. Vapour is seven times heavier than air, respiratory irritant. 

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