What is tear gas and how effective is it in controlling the situation?

Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf are once again trying to reach Islamabad’s D Chowk by highway and other routes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Police and other law enforcement agencies are using tear gas to stop and disperse them.

This is not the first time that the administration is using tear gas to stop the Tehreek-e-Insaf convoy, but tear gas has been used against the Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers before.

During the attempt of Tehreek-e-Insaf to reach D Chowk last month, thousands of tear gas shells were used by the police. Despite this, Tehreek-e-Insaaf workers managed to reach D Chowk in large numbers.

What is tear gas?

Tear gas is a non-lethal crowd-dispersal weapon that causes temporary eye irritation.

Despite its frequent use by law enforcement agencies, tear gas’s manufacture, chemical composition, human health effects, and legal implications are the subject of worldwide debate.

Although it is effective in controlling agitation, there are concerns over its misuse and potential harm.

Tear gas is not actually a gas, but a spray of chemical compounds that irritates the eyes, skin, and respiratory system.

Its main chemical constituents include chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS gas), chloroacetophenone (CN gas) and oleoresin capsicum (OC spray) are included.

CS gas is the most commonly used type, produced by the chemical reaction of malononitrile and benzyl chloride. These compounds are incorporated into various delivery systems such as grenades, canisters or aerosol sprays that release irritant particles when activated.

Materials used in tear gas devices are carefully selected for durability and safety. Common components include an aluminum or steel shell for heat insulation and polycarbonate plastic for the spray mechanism.

Tear gas can be fired using grenades, launch canisters or aerosol sprays, and each method depends on the specific situation. When activated, these devices produce a dense cloud of irritant particles that has an impact area of ​​up to about 50 meters.

Effects of tear gas on human health

Although tear gas is designed as a non-lethal weapon, it can cause significant damage. Short-term effects include irritation of the eyes, throat, and skin, coughing, difficulty breathing, and confusion.

Children, the elderly and people with pre-existing health problems are at higher risk. Close contact with tear gas shells can cause severe injuries, burns or long-term respiratory illnesses.

The chemicals in the tear gas shell react with sensory nerve receptors, which can cause skin, eye pain and discomfort, and their effects usually wear off within a few hours.

Immediate effects of tear gas can include eye irritation, burns, temporary blindness, blurred vision, chemical burns, hemorrhage, nerve damage, and respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as choking, burning in the nose and throat, coughing, chest pains. Symptoms include constipation, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.

This gas can be especially dangerous for people with respiratory diseases and can sometimes cause death.

This can cause symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, blisters and allergic dermatitis, which can last for days in severe cases.

Other effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, risk of heart attack in heart patients and injury from gas canisters.

Use of tear gas, what do international laws say?

The use of tear gas is regulated under international laws, such as the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits its use in war but allows its use by law enforcement under strict conditions.

The UN Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms call for the proportionate and limited use of tear gas, while human rights treaties emphasize the right to peaceful assembly.

Despite these guidelines, cases of indiscriminate and excessive use have been documented, leading to allegations of human rights violations.

When used properly, tear gas is an effective means of dispersing large crowds.

Especially in open spaces, it temporarily disperses crowds, helping law enforcement agencies deal with emergency situations.
However, its effect is reduced in bad weather such as rain or strong winds and in densely populated areas.

Experts say over-reliance on tear gas can increase tensions and stress the need to work on alternative methods such as alternative de-escalation strategies.

Experts say that although tear gas is a practical means of controlling public unrest, its use raises significant ethical and health concerns.

Policy makers and law enforcement agencies should ensure its use under international standards. Proportionality should be prioritized, and less harmful alternatives should be sought to protect both public safety and human rights.