Irritants and Riot Control Agents are chemicals likely to be used against a population to cause panic and hysteria more than inflict permanent injury or death. While the chemicals themselves are not considered lethal, susceptible people exposed to this class of agent may suffer extreme difficulty breathing or possible allergic reactions that can lead to death. In instances in the US where riot control agents have been used, there have been deaths related to trauma from being crushed or trampled by crowds of people trying to escape a building.

• Type and ID Information
• Tear Gas (CS & CR)—UN2810, ERG# 153
• Mace (CN)—UN1697, ERG# 153
• Pepper Spray (OC)—ERG# 159
• Dissemination—Solid aerosol, liquid, or gas
• Availability—Commercially available; used by military and civilian law enforcement
• Volatility—Low to high persistence depending on form and contaminated surface materials (porous)
• Vapor density—Heavier than air
• Odor
• Tear gas—hair spray
• Mace—Apple blossoms
• Pepper spray—Pepper or odor of propellant
• Routes of entry—Contact, inhalation, and ingestion
• General signs and/or symptoms—Tearing eyes, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, vomiting; onset of symptoms occurs very rapidly, within seconds.