Buzz
Both pepper spray and tear gas are non-lethal irritants that severely affect the eyes, nose, and throat, but they each have distinct properties.
The chemicals used to make them are different. According to biohazard cleanup company Aftermath, the active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum, derived from the compound responsible for the heat in chili peppers—capsaicin. If you’ve ever accidentally touched your eyes after handling hot peppers, you’ve experienced a mild version of what it feels like to be sprayed with pepper spray. Tear gas, in contrast, contains chemicals like 0-Chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) or 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CN), both of which are solids at room temperature. These chemicals are mixed with gases or liquids to be dispersed into the air.
The methods of delivery also differ. Pepper spray typically comes in an aerosol can, dispersing the irritant in a stream, mist, or other targeted manner (though it’s available as gel or foam as well). As the Berkeley Science Review points out, tear gas is usually deployed with a grenade, which releases the substance over a broad area upon detonation. Due to the grenade’s wide coverage, law enforcement is more likely to use tear gas to disperse crowds, whereas civilians tend to carry pepper spray for personal protection.
The initial effects of both substances are quite alike—intense irritation of the mucous membranes, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, runny nose, and more—but tear gas can also trigger nausea and vomiting at higher concentrations.
For additional information on tear gas, including what to do if you come into contact with it, visit here.
