Pepper spray

Toxic ammunition contains chemical agents which, through their adverse physiological effects, are in use by military or law enforcement organizations to kill, injure, or incapacitate humans. Less powerful agents are used by the public for self-defense. While the use of lethal chemical agents like mustard gas and nerve agents to kill or maim has been banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention (COTC), the use of toxic chemicals as suppressive methods to control or subdue crowds and riots is widespread. 

Tear gas agents include ethylbromoacetate, the first chemical police ordnance, used in Paris bromobenzylcyanide, the strongest lachrymator and 

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Dog repeUents available commercially in the 1990s have been generally unsuccessful in laboratory tests. Por example, lithium chloride treatments were usually rejected immediately with no ingestion, and bone oil treatments that contained up to 0.1% of the active ingredient were stiH consumed (93). Oleoresin capsicum [8023-77-6], the essence of red pepper, did have an extended effect on coyotes, even though the deer repeUents mentioned above were attractive to coyotes (93). Although a capsicum-base aerosol repeUent has been described as potentially harmful (94), pepper spray is commercially available in the United States to repel humans, as is Mace. 

Lachrymator A lachrymator is an irritant that causes tearing (watering of the eyes). Examples include onions, tear gas, and pepper spray (capsaicin). Some typical lachrymating chemicals are thionyl chloride (SOClj) and acrolein (CHj=CH-CHO). Certain chemicals may say lachrymator on the label so treat these with respect. Use these only in a fume hood. Goggles or safety glasses are not adequate protection for lachrymators, because the fumes can still reach your eyes directly or through inhalation. 

APD 2000 A portable, hand-held chemical detection and monitoring device that detects chemical warfare agents, recognizes pepper spray and Mace, and identifies hazardous compounds. 

Vanillin is the starting point for several chemicals. Thus capsaicin, the pungent principle of red pepper (Capsicum annuum), used in pepper-spray and pain killing ointments, is made in two steps from vanillin. 

Domino et al. (2000a) 18 Smokers i O-PET Nic nasal spray vs. pepper spray t Thai, pons, visual cortex, cereb... 

Riot control agent A chemical substance used for crowd control, e.g., pepper spray or tear gas. 

Pepper spray is not, as is often thought, CS, but is based on a substance capsaicin that is found in chilli peppers. 

Capsaicin is the active agent in the pepper sprays which are used by some police forces to disable and arrest aggressive individuals. Sprayed at the eyes they produce an intolerable sensation of burning although no permanent harm, the effect wearing... 

Capsaicin (cap-say -i-sin). Also called capsicum, capsaicin is the main ingredient found in many hot peppers (Figure 6.2) and spices such as paprika and cayenne pepper. Capsaicin is also the active ingredient in self-defense products such as pepper spray. Capsaicin directly activates nociceptors located on nerve fibers, and thus it would seem to be counterproductive (if not crazy) to apply such a substance on a wound to relieve pain. However, it turns out that capsaicin creams, gels, and lotions are indeed effective pain relievers and counterirritants when applied topically to the skin. 

Terrorism and war threaten us, but they happen infrequently. On a day-to-day basis more people are assaulted by muggers and mayhem in their neighborhood than by exotic groups or foreign countries. The streetwise city dweller will have bars on his window, use an intercom or peephole to see who is at the door, and carry a can of pepper spray when it s time to walk the dog. In lands where such modern conveniences are unknown, stone or wooden walls can be built around the hut to keep out intruders (both two- and four-footed), and a spear is kept by the bed in case the wall is breached. 

Capsaicin is also the active ingredient in the chemical riot control agent, pepper spray. When the spray comes in contact with skin, especially eyes or mucous membranes, it is very painful. In large quantities, capsaicin can be a lethal poison. Symptoms of overdose include difficulty in breathing, blue skin and convulsions and uncontrollable, painful nipple erections. Even though the... 

Reilly, C.A., Crouch, D.J. and Yost, G.S. (2001) Quantitative analysis of capsaicinoids in fresh peppers, oleoresin capsicum and pepper spray products. Journal of Forensic Sciences 46(3), 502-509. 

Capsaicin causes transient bronchoconstriction and induces coughing, especially in individual with severe asthma, potentially triggering fatal crises [37]. These adverse respiratory effects are probably due to the limited capacity of respiratory tissues to metabolize capsaicin (see Section 4.3) [38], and are a major problem with the use of pepper sprays as antiriot agents [37]. Smokers are less sensitive to the respiratory effects of capsaicin, but asthmatic patients should avoid chilies and hot cuisine, as should people using drugs such as ACE-inhibitors, which have an intrinsic capacity to induce cough. 

Riot control agents (tear gas) mace (CN), pepper spray, and CS. 

CN is a crystalline solid with a strong, pungent odor (see Figure 12.3). It is dispersed as a smoke, powder, or liquid formulation from grenades or other devices. It is perhaps better known under the trade name Chemical Mace and was once used widely for self-protection. It was also the standard tear gas used by the military (Figure 12.4) and police personnel. It has been replaced in favor of the less toxic CS for riot control and capsaicin pepper spray for self-defense. 

Capsaicinoids cause dermatitis as well as nasal, ocular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal effects in humans. OC gained popularity in the 1990s as a defensive weapon for civilians and law enforcement agencies because they produce an immediate, temporary immobilization and incapacitation when sprayed directly into the face or eyes. It is important to note that hand-held pepper spray formulations can contain OC by themselves or a mixture of OC and CS. 

Capsaicin causes conjunctivitis, periorbital edema/ erythema, ophthalmodynia, blepharospasm, blepharitis, corneal abrasions, and lacrimation. In a retrospective study of 81 patients who presented to the emergency department following aerosol exposure from law enforcement use of OC, 56% of individuals developed ophthalmodynia, 44% conjunctivitis, 40% conjunctival erythema, 13% lacrimation, and 9% comeal abrasions (Watson et al, 1996). Another study involved exposure of 47 human volunteers to OC for evaluating effects on the cornea and conjunctivae (Zolhnan et al, 2000). All subjects reported significant eye pain, blurred vision, and lacrimation 10 min after exposure to OC pepper spray, but symptoms improved by 1 h later. Comeal abrasions were not apparent, but 21% of subjects showed evidence of punctate epithelial erosions and reduced comeal sensitivity. Comeal abnormalities were absent 1 week after exposure. Another human study identified 23% of subjects (7 of 30) with comeal abrasions following aerosol exposure to OC spray (Watson et al, 1996). In mice, a single subcutaneous injection of 12.5, 25,... 

In children, capsaicin spray was demonstrated to cause a severe bronchospasm and pulmonary edema (Winograd, 1977 Bdlmire et al, 1996). In the Billmire study, a 4-week-old infant was exposed to 5% pepper spray after discharge from a self-defense device. The infant suffered respiratory failure and hypoxemia, requiring immediate extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Inhaled capsaicin causes an immediate increase in airway resistance (Fuller, 1991). This dose-dependent bronchoconstriction after capsaicin inhalation in humans is the same as that demonstrated in asthmatics and smokers (Fuller et al, 1985). The capsaicin-induced bronchoconstriction and release of substance P is due to stimulation of nonmyelinated afferent C-fibers. 

Exposure to other RCAs causes similar dermal effects. CN is a more potent irritant than CS. In a human study involving dermal application, CN (0.5 mg) powder caused irritation and erythema when on the skin for 60 min (Holland and White, 1972). It took 20 mg CS to cause similar effects for the same duration of exposure. Exposure to 5% capsaicin pepper spray causes immediate and severe erythema and edema in the skin (Herman et al, 1998). Similarly, pepper ball pellets fired at individuals will cause erythema, pain, and edema at the site of impaet. The initial point of contact may become infected, scar, or heal with hyperpigmentation (Hay et al, 2006). 

Billmire, D., Vinocur, C., Ginda, M. (1996). Pepper spray induced respiratory failure treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Pediatrics 98 961-3. 

Smith, C.G., Stopford, W. (1999). Health hazards of pepper spray. North Carolina Med. J. 60 150-9. 

Zollman, T.M., Bragg, R.M., Harrison, D.A. (2000). Clinical effects of oleoresin capsicum (pepper spray) on the human cornea and conjunctiva. Ophthalmology 107 2186-9. 

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