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Tear gas is used both by the police for crowd control, and by individuals for self-defense. There are three kinds of tear gas:
- CN (chloroacetophenone)
- CS (chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile)
- OC / Pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum)– made from chili peppers mixed with a vehicle like corn oil
Tear gas in the form of CN or CS, is often used by law enforcement when they are faced with a combative crowd. Both CN and CS are irritants, they irritate mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs and cause tearing, sneezing and coughing. Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent that causes inflammation in the eyes, nose and mouth.
Because tear gas is launched in the form of grenades or aerosol cans making the liquid an aerosol, its clean up requires specific technical steps be taken in order to effectively remediate the residue and air space left behind after its discharge.
TSCU staff are trained to deal with tear gas and have procedures to neutralize affected areas, even in the most complicated situations.
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