Riot control agents studies

The Himsworth report19,20 recommended that any chemical agent that might be used as a riot-control agent be studied in the same way as a new therapeutic drug. To a considerable extent, this has been done with CS. 

Helland, D.R. A cllnlcopathologic study of the effects of riot control agents on monkeys. I.Dlphenylaminochloroarslne-chloro-acetophenone (DM-CN) grenade. U.S. Army Medical Research Laboratory, Edgewood Arsenal, Md. Technical Report EATR 4068. 1967. 

Compared with other riot control agents, CR is relatively new no data from its use exist. Experimental studies indicate that its effects are similar to those of CS except that it causes almost no effects in the lower airways and lungs. It is much more potent than CS—a smaller concentration is needed... 

CA irritates the eyes and causes lacrimation at concentrations of 0.15 and 0.3 mg/m3 the LC f50 was estimated to be 27,000 mg min/m3.50 More recent studies indicate that the estimated LC t50 for humans is 11,000 mg min/m3,51 indicating that it is among the more toxic riot control agents. The health effects caused by CA are very similar to those caused by CS and CN. 

In the early to mid-1960s - the period of growing chemical use in Vietnam - the Army conducted a major ongoing review of its CBW policy. This study, codenamed Mandrake Root, was the most comprehensive study ever made to assess the potential value of chemical and biological weapons in support of land combat and to establish definitive requirements for weapons and protective equipment .Few details about the study have been published. It appears to have been an inter-agency study, comprehensive in scope, but somewhat uncoordinated with no clear sense of direction. This may in part explain the apparent confusion in the Vietnam War, over the extent to which authorisation of the use of riot control agents was delegated (see above). The study led to alterations to the R D requirement . ... 

---