How Does Pepper Spray Affect its Targets?
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray (from "oleoresin capsicum"), is a lachrymatory agent (a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, and even temporary blindness) used in policing and self-defense. It comes in two primary forms: dispersed as an aerosol spray or carried as a soaked rag. There are also versions such as Mace which may contain more than one chemical for additional effects. It is often used in policing, riot control, crowd control, military self-defense, and less commonly as a form of civilian self-defense. This spray typically comes in two concentrations: heatless and heaty. Heatless spray requires water to activate it while heaty spray usually contains an extract from cayenne peppers that becomes hot when exposed to the air. Aside from the typical use cases, some jurisdictions have expanded their laws on pepper spraying beyond law enforcement into other realms such as animal control or trespass prevention against large animals suc...