Tear gas and pepper spray are common tools in crowd control, but mounting evidence shows they can cause health problems that linger long after the initial burning and tears.
The impacts vary and are alarming, ranging from damage not just to the sensory organs but also reproductive health and the heart.
WHAT ARE PEPPER SPRAY AND TEAR GAS MADE OF?
Tear gas usually refers to chemicals like CS (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile), the most common today, often fired from exploding canisters or mixed into water cannons.
Pepper spray typically contains oleoresin capsicum (OC) and capsaicin, compounds extracted from chilli peppers, or synthetic versions like Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA), a human-made chemical mimicking capsaicin.
These irritants are banned in warfare under international treaties but permitted for law enforcement in certain countries.
India is one of those countries. There are many instances where tear gas or pepper spray is used in the nation. The latter is often used for self-defence, while the former has been used to break up public protests across the nation.
HOW DO PEPPER SPRAY, TEAR GAS AFFECT THE BODY?
Both pepper spray and tear gas trigger intense pain by activating nerves in the eyes, skin, and airways, causing overwhelming coughing, tears, and mucus.
The function is to incapacitate the target as soon as possible.
Furthermore, there is no antidote.
Health guidelines, however, advise moving to fresh air, washing skin with soap and water, and rinsing eyes until clear. The overwhelming symptoms usually fade in about 30 minutes, but severe or indoor exposure can prolong effects.
Children face higher risks if exposed to either of the two, because of thinner skin, smaller airways, and lower height where gas accumulates and easily attacks the nerves.
WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS?
Long-term impacts remain understudied, with no large systematic research.
Much evidence comes from anecdotal reports and smaller studies.
A 2014 study of over 6,000 US Army recruits showed odds of acute respiratory illness, like bronchitis or sinusitis, more than doubled after CS exposure in training. Higher doses increased risk, and later work led the military to limit concentrations.
CS can damage eye and airway linings, potentially causing fluid in lungs, infections, or lasting issues after repeated exposure.
Vulnerable groups, mostly the elderly, smokers, and asthmatics, face greater danger.
Similar studies have found other adverse effects like heart abnormalities causing delayed electrical impulses and reduced blood flow. Many victims also reported headaches, eye issues, skin problems, high blood pressure, or trauma.
Reproductive effects have also been reported.
A 2023 survey of over 1,200 individuals exposed to these gases found 83 percent experienced uterine cramping, breast tenderness, or irregular bleeding, with higher risk after multiple exposures. Ten of 19 pregnant respondents reported miscarriages, roughly double expected rates.
The reality remains that deeper and more long-term research is needed on the use of these weapons that do more than just stun the target. There are consequences over a period of time that warrant a rethinking about whether alternatives exist.
