2003/04/01 by Y G Karagama, Yakubu Karagama, J R Newton +3 · 1 citation
Medicine · #Anesthesia #Blepharospasm #Dermatology #Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery #Internal medicine #Medicine #Nasal spray #Nose #Occupational exposure and asthma #Pediatrics #Respiratory system #Restraint-Related Deaths #Surgery #Term (time) #Throat
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/014107680309600404
openalex publication_date 2003/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
CS gas (2-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile) is widely used in an incapacitant spray that causes intense lacrimation, blepharospasm and burning sensations in the throat and nose. Questions have been raised about its safety. We obtained information on short-term and long-term symptoms, and performed ear, nose and throat examinations and respirometry at 8–10 months, in 34 young adults who had been exposed to CS spray in a confined space during a confrontation with police. The group was subdivided into those who had been sprayed directly on the face ( n=10) and those exposed indirectly. At one hour, all but 2 individuals still had symptoms; respiratory and oral symptoms were significantly more prevalent in the directly exposed group. At one month, only oral symptoms were significantly more prevalent. At 8–10 months, symptoms were still reported but there were no differences between the groups and clinical examinations revealed no specific abnormalities. There was no convincing evidence of long-term physical sequelae from exposure to CS spray.