TYPE OF AGENT – Lacrymatory (Tear gas)

NAME (CHEMICAL) – Oleoresin Capsicum, Trans-8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide

NAME (NATO) – OC

NAME (COMMON) – OC, Pepper Spray, Capsaisin

DATE OF DISCOVERY – 1920 (OC), Antiquity (Use of peppers [Chillies] as a chemical weapon)

MOLECULAR FORMULA – C­­­₁₈H₂₇NO₃

MOLECULAR WEIGHT – 305.4 g/mol

PHYSICAL STATE @ 20° C. – (68° F.)

VAPOR DENSITY (AIR = 1.0) – 10.5

FLASH POINT – Depends on carrier

FREEZING/MELTING POINT – 65° C. (149° F.)

BOILING POINT – >187° C. (>369° F.)

DECOMPOSITION TEMPERATURE – Above 150° C. (302° F.)

ODOR – Pungent, irritating

APPEARANCE – Crystalline to waxy solid or dark red, viscous liquid

SOLUBILITY – Limited 0.090 g/l @ 37° C. (99° F.)

MEDIAN INCAPACITATING DOSAGE (ID50) – Undetermined, 16 to 28 percent of people unaffected or resistant

MEDIAN LETHAL DOSAGE (LD50) – Undetermined, Not considered lethal except for prolonged exposure in enclosed areas

PERSISTENCY – Nonpersistent

INHALATION TOXICITY – Pain and alteration of lung function, considered non-toxic

SKIN TOXICITY – Pain and burning sensation, considered non-toxic

EYE TOXICITY – Severe pain, considered non-toxic

RATE OF ACTION – Immediate, 3 to 10 seconds maximum delay to onset of symptoms

SYMPTOMS (PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION) – Eyes – extremely painful burning, tearing, and swelling, possible temporary blindness,  Skin – strong sensation of burning/heat, respiratory pain, inflaming and swelling of mucous membranes, breathing restricted to short, shallow breaths

TREATMENT – Remove from exposure, wash affected area with cool water

DURATION OF EFFECTIVENESS – Symptoms last up to 15 to 45 minutes, material quickly disburses in environment

PROTECTION – Gas mask

DECONTAMINATION – Remove from exposure, wash with water

USE – Riot control sprays, grenades

     An oily resin extracted from the dried, ripened fruit of chili peppers, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) has, in its natural state, been used as a flavoring agent for centuries. As a chemical weapon, OC, in the form of dried, ground-up peppers, has also been used for centuries. OC is the extracted essence of the capsaicinoids, the ingredients in peppers that give it its “heat.” Typically, OC is extracted from the dried, ripe, fruit of Capsicum annum. OC is rarely encountered in its chemical state as it is usually diluted into a 5 to 10% mixture in alcohol for use as an aerosol.

     OC is a severe mucosal irritant, creating a strong burning sensation in the eyes and mouth and an involuntary closing of the eyes, creating a form of temporary blindness. The almost instantaneous pain from being sprayed with an OC agent is very strong, but it is not considered life-threatening in the vast majority of subjects who have been affected with it. Used in both its powdered form in frangible pellets launched by simple projectors and in bursting munitions, as well as a projected liquid, OC is considered to be the safest chemical agent when used in a responsible manner. Additionally, there is PAVA (perlargonic acid vanillyamide) available, which is a synthetic version of OC that is now seeing widespread use as a police agent. PAVA spray being a 0.3% solution of PAVA in 50% aqueous ethanol, projected from a hand-held spray can using inert Nitrogen as the propellant.