What is tear gas?
Tear
gas can refer to several chemical agents which stimulate the corneal nerves in
the eyes. Formally referred to as “lacrymatory agents” (lacrima = tear in
Latin), these chemicals are considered non-lethal weapons designed to disperse
crowds by causing temporary pain and tearing. The most commonly used tear gasses
are pepper spray (OC gas) and CS gas, though evidence from the ground in
Ferguson suggests the police there are using the latter.
Most tear gasses are not a gasses at all, and are instead aerosolized solids. The CS gas grenades
being used by the Ferguson Police Department contain CS
(2-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile). CS was discovered in 1928 by scientists
Carson and Stoughton (hence the name, “CS”), though it wasn’t until the
1950s and 1960s that CS was tested and developed for use. It has recently
become popular because, while extremely effective, CS is considered
significantly less toxic than alternatives.
Despite
it’s “non-toxic” reputation, CS is prohibited for use in warfare by the
Chemical Weapons Convention that was signed by many countries (including the
US) in 1993. It is classified as a chemical warfare agent. However, this does
not apply to domestic use of it or any tear gas, and police use of CS is legal
in many countries, including the United States.
How it works
The
effects of CS can vary widely and are dependent on the dosage received,
duration exposed, and whether the chemical is packaged as a volatile solution
or used as an aerosol. “Tear gases are nerve gases that specifically activate
pain-sensing nerves,” explained scientist Sven-Eric Jordt, who studies the
effects of tear gas and other chemicals at Yale University School of Medicine, in
an interview with National Geographic last year.
Though this sounds extreme, medical professionals have concluded that CS gas poses little
danger when used appropriately. “No consistent adverse
effects from acute exposure have been documented, nor has excessive or
unfounded use been a problem,” says Kari
Blaho, research director for the Department of Emergency
Medicine and Clinical Toxicology at the University of Tennessee.
After
exposure, the effects of CS are generally felt within 60 seconds. The most
immediate effects are irritation of the eyes, skin and mucous membranes,
leading to burning sensations, tearing, coughing, and, if swallowed, vomiting.
Burning of the skin, excessive fluid production in the eyes, nose and throat,
disorientation and dizziness are common. Most of these subside within an hour
if the exposed individual is removed from the scene into a well-ventilated area
and removes clothing contaminated by the chemical. However, severe reactions to
the chemical have occurred, and include blistering, irreversible damage to the
eyes, heart and liver damage, respiratory distress, and heart failure. People
with asthma or otherwise weakened respiratory systems are particularly at risk
of life-threatening complications. While there are no confirmed fatalities from
CS exposure, tear gasses in general have had lethal effects, and CS
specifically has been implicated in at
least one death during an aggravated arrest.
Medical opinion on its use
Not all
professionals agree that CS is safe enough for domestic use. “Tear gas under
the Geneva Convention is characterized as a chemical warfare agent, and so it
is precluded for use in warfare,” explains Jordt, “but it is used very
frequently against civilians. That’s very illogical.”
“The
possibility of long-term health consequences such as tumor formation,
reproductive effects and pulmonary disease is especially disturbing in view of
the multiple exposures sustained by demonstrators and non-demonstrators alike
in some areas of civil unrest” wrote
Howard Hu and five other medical doctors in the Journal of the American Medical
Association in 1989. “The evidence already assembled regarding the pattern of use
of tear gas as well as its toxicology raises the question of whether its
further use can be condoned under any conditions.” The doctors came down hard
on current police use of the substance:
“In many instances in which harassing agents have been used,
dialogue and negotiation could have been pursued. Often, public order might be
better served if riot police are not called immediately to duty. It is the
hallmark of repressive regimes to equate the voicing of dissent with disorder
and to deny opponents the freedom of assembly and speech, rights guaranteed
universally among signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
Mani
Prasad Gautam, a doctor with the National Academy of Medical Sciences in
Nepal, and his colleague echoed similar sentiments in
a 2004 article on the use of tear gasses. “Although the chemical agents have
been used for many years, the full extent of effects on health is far
beyond our understanding,” they wrote. “The use of these gases as per the
safety sheet provided by manufacturers is not always the rule in real
scenario. Even with strict guidelines regarding chemical weapons, it is
nearly impossible for police officers to monitor their use during an
actual deployment.”
They
also point out the medical burden of exposure, which is often ignored by those
who deploy tear gasses. “Neither the police nor the government hospitals
take any responsibility for aftercare of the exposed people,” they stated.
“Unless there is independent research establishing that these weapons are
reasonably safe, and until there is credible oversight of the police
practices and manufacturers’ claims, the public has no way to assess how much
risk it is accepting in the name of law and order.”
They
conclude, quite strongly:
“The use of CS gas and other tear gases with
comparable clinical effects should be taken as tantamount to
chemical warfare against civilians and, therefore, the use of these
agents against human populations everywhere should be banned.”
Tear gas in Ferguson
The
chief of police in Ferguson, Tom Jackson, has defended his department’s use of
tear gas and other riot suppression measures. “There are complaints about
the response from some people, but to me, nobody got hurt seriously, and I’m
happy about that. I’m happy that nobody got hurt,” Jackson said at a press
conference today.
Though
the science of tear gas use is mixed, it is generally considered safe.
But that does not absolve police of improper or over use of tear gasses under
any circumstances. In Ferguson right now, there are reports of police using
tear gas on peaceful protests led by government officials. The police are accused
of targeting the press with tear gas to silence the media. In these cases, it
doesn’t matter whether CS is safe — the violation of First Amendment rights
cannot be tolerated. Though the events might be occurring in Ferguson,
Missouri, questions surrounding excessive force and constitutional rights are
echoed throughout our nation. This is our country, our America, which was
founded on the principles of liberty and justice for all. We all
must defend those principles.
The
entire article with images and charts can be found at: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2014/08/14/tear-gas-chemical-weapon-use-protesting-american-citizens/
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