Toxicologic evaluation of pepper spray as a possible weapon for the Dutch police force - Risk assessment and efficacy

The efficacy and possible health risks of pepper spray were evaluated. In a number of countries, pepper spray is being used by police forces to aid in arresting aggressive individuals. Pepper spray is commercially available a s a canister filled with Capsicum extract, which contains capsaicin as the active component. When applied in the form of a spray, it causes an acute i nflammation, and humans involuntarily close their eyes, experience a burnin g feeling on the skin, and are usually rapidly incapacitated. Use by the U. S. police was successful in subduing aggressive individuals in 90% of cases , and a reduction of injury to both police and arrested individuals was not ed. In general, pepper spray appeared to be a relatively safe weapon with s mall risk of causing acute physical harm. Despite this evidence, a number o f fatalities were reported in the United States following the use of pepper spray. However, it was concluded that it was not the pepper spray but rath er other factors such as drugs and hog-tying that contributed to the cause of death. In only 1 case, that of an asthmatic man, was it concluded that t he use of pepper spray contributed to the cause of death. Much attention ha s been paid to possible genotoxic effects of Capsicum extract such as mutag enicity and carcinogenicity. It was concluded that the risk of long-term he alth effects is negligible. Because pepper spray may induce bronchoconstric tion, people suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease may be hyperse nsitive to it. Although the results of one study indicate that asthmatics d o not develop additional bronchoconstriction following inhalation of capsai cin, the number of experimental data are too few to draw sound conclusions.