Riot control agents irritants

Riot-Control Agents (Irritant Agents and Vomiting Agents)... 

In 1974 the US Army approved the use of CR. CR has much greater irritating properties than CS and is about 5x more effective. In addition, CR is much less toxic than CS. CR is not used in its pure form (a yellow powder), but is dissolved in a solution of 80 parts of propylene glycol and 20 parts of water to form a 0.1% CR solution. It is used in solution as a riot control agent. 

CR is a potent peripheral sensory Irritant of low toxicity by the usual routes of administration.3 It appears safer than CS, which replaced CN and DM in turn as riot-control agent because of greater effectiveness and lower toxicity. Table 4-20 shows comparative toxi-citles of these compounds in several species.2... 

Riot-control agents—such as CS, CN, and CR—are solids. Edge-wood scientists felt that dissemination and decontamination would be simpler with a volatile liquid agent. Research led to the produc tlon and testing of l-methoxy-l,3,5-cycloheptatriene (CHT, EA 4923), a liquid substance of high volatility (Table 4-40) with physiologic effects typical of riot-control agents (e.g., lacrlmation, skin irrl tatlon, and mucous membrane irritation). 

Riot control agents are chemical compounds that temporarily Inhibit a person s ability to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin. Sometimes known as tear gas, riot agents are present in both liquid and solid form and can be released In the air as fine droplets or particles. The purpose of their use Is to Incapacitate the victim. Riot control agents may be employed by police attempting to subdue an unruly crowd. 

OSHA PEL TWA 0.05 ppm ACGIH TLV TWA 0.05 ppm Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen DOT CLASSIFICATION 6.1 Label Poison SAFETY PROFILE A human poison by inhalation. An experimental poison by ingestion, inhalation, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes. Human systemic effects by inhalation lachrymation, conjunctiva irritation, and unspecified eye effects, cough, and dyspnea. A severe eye and moderate skin irritant. Questionable carcinogen with experimental neoplastigenic data by skin contact. A riot control agent. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cr. See also KETONES. 

By any route of administration, the effects are slower in onset and longer in duration than typical riot control agents such as CS (o-chloro-benzylmalono-nitrile). Vomiting agents are irritants upon initial exposure. The slow onset for DM allows for the absorption of much more DM before a warning is perceived. The estimated threshold concentrations for irritation of the throat, lower respiratory tract, and initiation of the cough reflex are 0.38, 0.5, and 0.75 mg m respectively. 

Riot control agents such as CN are those that cause disabling physiological effects when they come into contact with the eyes or skin, or when inhaled. They have the capacity to cause intense sensory irritation of the skin and mucous membranes of the eye and respiratory tract. They are peripheral sensory irritants that pharmacologically interact with sensory nerve receptors in skin and mucosal surfaces at the site of contamination resulting in local pain and discomfort sensations with associated reflexes. The reflex associated with the inhalation exposure of irritants is the Kratschmer reflex. This reflex causes apnea, bradycardia, and a biphasic fall and rise in aortic blood pressure. 

General Remarks CS is a lacrimator and is used as a riot-control agent. It is one member of a group of compounds that includes, for example, 1-chloroacetophenone (CN), and 10-chloro-5,10-dihy-drophenarszine (DM). These agents rapidly (seconds to minutes) induce irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. 

Ballantyne, B., Riot control agents in military operations, civil disturbance control, and potential terrorist activities, with particular reference to peripheral chemosensory irritants, in Chemical Warfare Agents Toxicology and Treatment, Second Edition, Marrs, T.C., Maynard, R.L., and SideU, F.R., Eds., John Wiley Sons, Chichester, 2006a, pp. 543-612. 

The major riot control agents, or aids to arrest , in current use are 2-chlorobenzylidene mal-ononitrile (CS), 1-chloroacetophenone (CN) and capsaicin, N -(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzy l)-8-methyl-6-nonenamide (or pepper spray) the potent and persistent irritant dibenz[b,f]l 4-oxazepine (CR) has rarely been used (Olajos... 

RIOT CONTROL AGENTS IN MILITARY OPERATIONS, CIVIL DISTURBANCE CONTROL AND POTENTIAL TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PERIPHERAL CHEMOSENSORY IRRITANTS... 

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