Oleoresin Capsicum and the Scuttlebutt

Like most application of force technology for law enforcement, pepper spray was introduced with some skepticism by policy makers, police watch groups and the citizenry. Pepper spray was said to be inhuman, mutagenic and even deadly. Like with all other things, the dust has settled. In the mid to late 90’s several studies were conducted by a variety of credible sources regarding pepper spray. I was unable to find any substantial existing study literature within the last five years. The hype seems to have shifted to Tasers. If any studies evaluating pepper spray concerns are presently being conducted, they have yet to be released. However, I could not find any information indicating if any such studies are underway.

In 2001, Chan et al published a study evaluating the effect of pepper spray on the ability to breath. The study was a randomized, crossover, controlled laboratory study involving 34 subjects recruited from a police academy. The study was conducted to assess the respiratory effects of pepper spray compared to a placebo spray with the subject in both sitting and restraint positions. Each subject was sprayed four times, once with pepper spray and once with placebo spray both sitting and restrained. The study found that there was no significant difference in blood oxygenation levels between subjects sprayed with pepper spray and subjects sprayed with placebo in the sitting position. There were lower blood levels of carbon dioxide in the sitting pepper spray group than the sitting placebo group, indicating increased respiratory rate in the pepper spray group.

In the restraint position, the forced vital capacity[1] of the subjects was decreased when compared with the FVC in the sitting position, but still within normal limits. OC exposure did not result in a further decrease in the FVC than placebo spray in the restraint position. There were no differences in blood oxygen or carbon dioxide levels in restrained subjects exposed to OC versus those exposed to placebo. In addition, the researchers found that there was no evidence that OC spray inhalation compromised the respiratory function of subjects with underlying diseases such as lung disease, asthma, smoking or inhaler use. This study also looked at the cardiovascular effects of OC. Pepper spray was found to cause a small increase in heart rate when compared to placebo spray. Blood pressure was increased by the use of OC in subjects compared with placebo, which is likely due to the pain and discomfort caused by OC. It should be noted that this study was conducted in basically healthy individuals capable of participating in the physical training of a police academy. Also, the subjects wore goggles during the exposures in order to allow isolated evaluation of the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of OC.[2]

In a study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (Petty 2004), 63 deaths involving the use of pepper spray were examined. Of the 63 deaths, two were causally related to the use of pepper spray. Upon autopsy, these two individuals were found to have long standing asthma that was exacerbated by exposure to pepper spray. Pepper spray was not found to be a causative factor in the deaths of the reaming 61 people. Cause of death in 23 of these cases were found to be “clear cut.” They were attributed to drugs, drugs and disease, or positional asphyxia. Cause of death in 32 cases found to be “jumbled.” These deaths were caused by the combination of a confrontational situation combined with drugs and/or disease. The reaming six cases were “odd balls.” Two of these six “odd balls” were attributed to arteriosclerotic heart disease. The causes of death in the remaining four cases were as follows: multiple gunshot wounds, a blood coagulation disorder, manual neck compression, and subjected “choked down” by law enforcement officers.[3] Considering the widespread use of pepper spray by law enforcement, corrections and private security personnel, pepper spray is by and large a safe application of force.

Not only is pepper spray a fairly safe substance, it has been proven to be an effective tool for law enforcement. The heat or power of pepper sprays are rated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Pepper spray for law enforcement use ranges from between 500,000 SHU to 5.3 million SHU. The higher the SHU, the hotter the pepper spray is. In my experience as a police officer, instructor and instructor-trainer, pepper spray containing 500,000 SHU is not hot enough to be effective in subduing a person. Consequently, this causes officers to lose confidence in the effectiveness of pepper spray. Personally, I feel that pepper sprays of two million SHU, or hotter are needed to be effective.

Training and education are essential for law enforcement professionals who use pepper spray. Non-brand specific training programs are best because they are not product biased. It is important that those who use pepper spray implement it in ways consistent with their training. Post exposure decontamination training is also an essential part of pepper spray training for law enforcement. Just as training and education are important to guide law enforcement officers with using pepper spray – sound policies and procedures are an equally important aspect to consider too.

Pepper spray has been proven to be an asset to public safety personnel. Despite the initial scuttlebutt, pepper spay has withstood the tests and proven its worth as a safe and effective application of force tool. I close with a quote from Ed Nowicki – “take care and remember to keep the wind at your back!”

[1] Force vital capacity (FVC) is the maximum amount of air that an individual can expel from the lungs after a maximal inspiration.

[2] Chan TC, Vilke GM, Clausen J, Clark R, Schmidt P, Snowden T, Neuman T, 2001. “Pepper Spray’s Effects on a Suspect;s Ability to Breathe”. National Institutes of Justice, Research in Breif.

[3] Petty, Charles S. M.D., 2004. “Deaths in Police Confrontations When Oleoresin Capsicum is Used”