Tear gas

Tear gas is a chemical irritant dispersed as an aerosol or vapor to cause intense eye-watering and temporary irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.

CS gas: A riot-control agent that irritates the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, often dispersed as an aerosol. It is the most widely used tear-gas agent and activates pain-sensing pathways.
Riot control: The management of public disorder by police or other authorities. Police may deploy tear gas to disperse crowds, often with significant health and legal consequences.
Chemical pneumonitis: Inflammation of lung tissue caused by inhaled chemicals or other irritants. Heavy or prolonged exposure can inflame the lungs beyond temporary airway irritation.
Chloropicrin: A toxic chemical used historically as a fumigant and chemical-warfare agent that also causes intense irritation. It can cause tearing like riot-control agents but is more toxic and is not a typical modern tear gas.
CN gas: A lachrymatory chemical once widely used in riot-control munitions and personal-defense sprays. This older agent causes irritation but carries greater toxicity concerns than CS.
Chemical warfare: The use of toxic chemical substances as weapons to injure or incapacitate people. Tear gas sits at the boundary between permitted domestic use and prohibited warfare.
Corneal abrasion: A scratch or scrape on the clear front surface of the eye. Severe eye irritation, rubbing, or embedded particles can injure the cornea.
Mace (spray): A brand name historically associated with personal-defense sprays, including formulations containing chemical irritants. The name is often used loosely for sprays that may contain tear-gas agents or pepper compounds.
CR gas: A potent riot-control agent that causes severe irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Its potency and persistence distinguish it from commonly used CS formulations.
Chemical Weapons Convention: A 1993 international treaty prohibiting chemical weapons and regulating toxic chemicals and riot-control agents. It permits riot-control agents for law enforcement but prohibits their use as a method of warfare.

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