Toxicity riot control 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... 

DM Is a moderately toxic riot-control agent that produces symptoms of slightly delayed onset and a relatively long recovery period. Because they cause symptoms of more rapid onset and recovery and are less toxic, CS and CN may be said to be more effective riot-control agents and to make DM obsolete as a riot-control agent. 

Parenteral toxicity of riot control agents In mice, rats, and rabbits. U.S. Army Medical Research Laboratory, Edgewood Arsenal, Md. EATM 100-22. 1971. 11 p. 

For the purpose of implementing the CWC, toxic chemicals and precursors, which have been identified for the application of verification measures, are listed in Schedules contained in the Annex on Chemicals (for the Schedules, see Chapter 2). Schedule 1 includes chemicals developed, produced, stockpiled, or used as a chemical weapon as defined above, and chemicals structurally close to them. Schedule 2 lists three toxic chemicals not included in Schedule 1 and the degradation products and precursors of these toxic chemicals as well as of those of Schedule 1. Schedule 3 lists four toxic chemicals and precursors not listed in the other Schedules. The Schedules contain mainly organic chemicals with different chemical and physical properties, being neutral chemicals, acids, bases, volatiles, and nonvolatiles, where phosphorus, fluorine, sulfur, chlorine, nitrogen, and oxygen occur frequently. Riot control agents are not included in the Schedules. 

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. 

DM is more toxic than other riot control agents the LCtso for humans has been estimated to be 11000 mg min m. The amount that is intolerable... 

Salem H, Olajos EJ, and Katz SA (2001) Riot control agents. In Somani SM and Romano JA (eds.) Chemical Warfare Agents - Toxicity at Low-Levels, pp. 321-372. New York CRC Press. 

Salem, H., Olajos, E.J., and Katz, S.A., Riot control agents, in Chemical Warfare Agents Toxicity at Low Levels, Second Edition, S.M. Somani and J.A. Romano, Jr., Eds., CRC Press. Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 321-372, 2001. 

Durnford JM (2004). Genetic toxicity of riot control agents. In Riot Control Agents. Issues in Toxicology, Safety, and Health (EJ Olajos and W Stopford, eds), pp. 183-200. Boca Raton, FL, USA CRC Press. 

Convulsives and calmatives may rely on their toxic properties to have a physiological effect on humans. If that is the case, and these two NLWs (Non-Lethal Weapons) are not considered RCAs (Riot Control Agents), in order to avoid being classified as a prohibited chemical weapon, they would have to be used for the article I(9)(d) purpose not prohibited" the law enforcement purpose. As discussed... the limits of this purpose not prohibited are not clear and will be determined by the practice of states (emphasis added). 

Riot control agents (RCA) are accorded a special status in the CWC. On one hand, it is acknowledged that they are toxic chemicals, which in principle fall under the prohibitions of the Convention. On the other hand, RCA have legitimate uses in law enforcement and riot control operations. Thus Article I, para 5 prohibits the use of RCA as a method of warfare, while Article II, para 9(d) explicitly permits their use for Taw enforcement including domestic riot control. RCA are... 

C. CN dissolves in organic solvents. CN is more toxic than CS. CN is a riot control agent and as a training agent is now superseded by CS, the latter being much less toxic. However, it is still in use by police in some countries. 

D. Bromobenzyl cyanide (CA) and bromoacetone (BA) are older lacrimators. They are too toxic for use as riot control agents and must be considered obsolete. 

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