II. Definitions
- Riot Control Agent (Tear Gas)
- Aerosolized powders used by police and military to suppress crowds by causing eye, skin and nose irritation
III. Causes: Common Riot Control Agents
- Commonly used Riot Control Agents
- Oleoresin of Capsicum (OC, Pepper Spray)
- Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) Powder
- Most common agent used in U.S. by police and border control agents
- Chloroacetophenone (CN)
- More skin irritation than with CS
- Older agents with greater toxicity
- Chlorodihydrophenarsazine (DM)
- Dibenzoxazepine (CR) Gas
IV. Mechanism
- Pain receptor (TRPA1) irritation and inflammation at skin, eye, nose
- Riot Control Agent exposure to CN or CS is rarely lethal unless in enclosed spaces
V. Findings: Signs and Symptoms
- Eye
- Eye tearing
- Conjunctivitis
- Chemosis
- Blepharospasm
- Nose
- Nasal congestion
- Rhinorrhea
-
Lung
- Cough
- Bronchospasm
- Hemoptysis
- Gastrointestinal
- Skin
- Skin burning Sensation
- Contact Dermatitis (uncommon)
- Skin bullae (prolonged exposure)
VI. Management
-
Decontamination
- Evacuate patient to open, fresh air
- Remove all contaminated clothing
- Wash all skin with soap and water (remove all traces of chemical)
- Eye Irrigation for 15 minutes
- Consider Diphoterine Wash (Decontamination and chelating solution)
-
ABC Management
- Airway Management
- Supplemental Oxygen as needed
- Oral secretion and nasal secretion suctioning
- Acute bronchospasm management (e.g. AlbuterolInhaler or Nebulized Albuterol)
-
Contact Dermatitis Management
- Burn Management as needed
VII. Complications: Rare
VIII. Resources
- CDC Riot Control Agents
IX. References
- Tomaszeski (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(6): 32
- Olajos (2001) J Appl Toxicol 21(5):355-91 +pmid:11746179 [PubMed]
- Schep (2015) J R Army Med Corps 161(2):94-9 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Concepts | Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D002721 |
| SnomedCT | 79803004 |
| English | Chloracetophenone, chloroacetophenone, Chloroacetophenone (substance), Chloroacetophenone |
| French | Chloro-acétophénone, Chloroacétophénone |
| Spanish | cloroacetofenona (sustancia), cloroacetofenona |
Ontology: Riot Control Agents, Chemical (C0035643)
| Definition (MSH) | Chemical substances which are employed during a riot in order to control or disperse the rioting parties. |
| Concepts | Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) |
| MSH | D012304 |
| English | Riot Control Agents, Chemical, Chemical Riot Control Agents, RIOT CONTROL AGENTS CHEM, CHEM RIOT CONTROL AGENTS |
| French | Antiémeutes chimiques, Agents antiémeutes chimiques, Anti-émeutes chimiques |
| Swedish | Kemiska substanser för kontroll av upplopp |
| Czech | látky proti demonstrantům chemické |
| Finnish | Kemialliset mellakanhallinta-aineet |
| Russian | KHIMICHESKIE VESHCHESTVA DLIA KONTROLIA ZA OBSHCHESTVENNYM PORIADKOM, ХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ВЕЩЕСТВА ДЛЯ КОНТРОЛЯ ЗА ОБЩЕСТВЕННЫМ ПОРЯДКОМ |
| Croatian | Not Translated[Riot Control Agents, Chemical] |
| Polish | Środki chemiczne stosowane podczas rozruchów i zamieszek |
| Japanese | 暴動制圧用化学物質, 暴動鎮圧用化学物質 |
| Portuguese | Substâncias para Controle de Distúrbios Civis, Agentes Químicos para Controle de Tumultos, Substâncias para Controle de Desordens Civis, Substâncias para Controle de Tumultos, Substâncias para Controle de Motins |
| Spanish | Sustancias para Control de Disturbios Civiles, Agentes Químicos para Control de Disturbios, Sustancias para Control de Desórdenes Civiles, Agentes Químicos para Control de Tumultos, Sustancias para Control de Motines, Sustancias Antidisturbios, Sustancias para Control de Desorden Civil, Sustancias para Control de Tumultos |
| Norwegian | Not Translated[Riot Control Agents, Chemical] |
| German | Polizeikampfstoffe, chemische |
| Italian | Sostanze chimiche per la tutela dell'ordine pubblico |
Ontology: Lacrimogenic gas (C0729410)
| Definition (MSH) | Gases that irritate the eyes, throat, or skin. Severe lacrimation develops upon irritation of the eyes. |
| Concepts | Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) |
| MSH | D013665 |
| SnomedCT | 311751001, 42325008 |
| English | Gas, Tear, Gases, Tear, Tear Gas, Tear Gases, Lacrimogenic gas, tear gas, Lacrimogenic gas (substance), Tear gas, Lacrimator gas (substance), Lacrimator gas, Lacrimator gas, NOS, Tear gas, NOS |
| Swedish | Tårgaser |
| Czech | slzné plyny |
| Finnish | Kyynelkaasut |
| French | Gaz lacrymogène, Gaz lacrymogènes |
| Russian | SLEZOTOCHIVYE GAZY, ЛАКРИМАТОРЫ, LAKRIMATORY, СЛЕЗОТОЧИВЫЕ ГАЗЫ |
| Japanese | 催涙ガス |
| Italian | Gas lacrimogeno, Gas lacrimogeni |
| Polish | Gazy łzawiące |
| Spanish | gas lacrimógeno [dup] (sustancia), gas lacrimógeno (sustancia), gas lacrimógeno, Gases Lacrimógenos |
| Norwegian | Tåregass, Tåregasser |
| German | Tränengase |
| Portuguese | Gases Lacrimogênios |
Ontology: Oleoresin capsicum spray (C1445782)
| Concepts | Hazardous or Poisonous Substance (T131) |
| SnomedCT | 412455005 |
| English | Oleoresin capsicum spray (product), Oleoresin capsicum spray |
| Spanish | aerosol de oleorresina capsicum (producto), aerosol de oleorresina capsicum |
