About Pepper Spray (SciAm)

[pokerfan]

By Deborah Blum | November 21, 2011 |

My own purpose here is to focus on the dangers of a high level of capsaicin exposure. But as pointed out in the 2004 paper, Health Hazards of Pepper Spray, written by health researchers at the University of North Carolina and Duke University, the sprays contain other risky materials:

Depending on brand, an OC spray may contain water, alcohols, or organic solvents as liquid carriers; and nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or halogenated hydrocarbons (such as Freon, tetrachloroethylene, and methylene chloride) as propellants to discharge the canister contents.(3) Inhalation of high doses of some of these chemicals can produce adverse cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic effects, including arrhythmias and sudden death.

<...>

Pepper spray use has been suspected of contributing to a number of deaths that occurred in police custody. In mid-1990s, the U.S. Department of Justice cited nearly 70 fatalities linked to pepper-spray use, following on a 1995 report compiled by the American Civil Liberties Union of California. The ACLU report cited 26 suspicious deaths; it’s important to note that most involved pre-existing conditions such as asthma. But it’s also important to note a troubling pattern.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/11/21/about-pepper-spray

[TomClash]

1. Many on this Board would disagree

I posted about the negative effects of pepper spray after the New York attack by Officer Bologna. Several posts downplayed the effects.

I'm glad you have alerted people to this.

[Raster]

2. Me thinks all of those than downplayed pepper spray had never caught a facefull,...

...nor would they want to. So easy to downplay some when you are not on the receiving end.

[TomClash]

3. Exactly

You're essentially blinded and disoriented, though temporarily. Get enough and your face feels frozen.

But, hey, the effects are only "temporary." :puke:

[peacebird]

4. Can be fatal if you have asthma, or suffer anaphylactic reaction from the irritants

My throat can close down from chewing a lot of different highly aromatic things, like candied ginger or even Skittles. I spit them out and wait a couple very long seconds, and my throat opens up again and I can breathe. I cannot imagine what would happen with a cloud of pepper spray.... I would not be able to get away from it to let my irritated membranes recover.

I am sure I am not the only person this happens to.

[SCantiGOP]

5. I got my share in May of 1970

goes way beyond just being unpleasant.

[Citizen Worker]

6. But, but, but these are non-lethal weapons, right?