I have been searching through various MSDS databases and other chemistry
sources to find information about a number of substances.
In Canada they use a substance called oleoresin capsicum in "pepper spray".
It has been called a non-lethal use-of-force alternative. As one of the
first aboriginal police services governor (volunteer position in Ontario)
for the city of Thunder Bay, I thought that this would be a good idea. After
some though however, I related to my colleagues on the police board that I
wanted to know what other effects the substance might have on people. I told
them that some people might have an adverse reaction to it ... in fact, I
told them that someone might die as a result of it. This was before I knew
anything about it and it hadn't been used in Canada very much.
They reassured me that all of the testing had been completed and that the
product was "safe". I went along with authorizing the use of "pepper spray
for about 200 police officers in Thunder Bay. Subsequent findings since that
time have indicated that a number of people have in fact died after being
sprayed. Thirty cases were studied by the American Association of Police
Chiefs (not sure about this). There was one death in Thunder Bay last year
and another, perhaps two in Sault Ste. Marie and in Ottawa.
I attended the inquiry here a few months ago and I continue to feel that
something is very wrong here. The authorities don't seem to want to make a
connection between the use of the spray as a factor leading to death. Many
other circumstances have been implicated but the indication are, in my
opinion, that for SOME PEOPLE, it could be fatal. This is not acceptable to
me. If this is the case, the public should be made aware of this and perhaps
the product should be significantly modified or all together discontinued as
a non-lethal alternative.
The manufacturer of the spray in Canada is First Defence and the contents of
the spray are:
ethanol
pelargonic acid vanillyamide
oleoresin capsicum
( I may have to recheck these facts since I don't have them handy).
I have found some information about some of these sustances. Pelargonic acid
is also known as Nonanoic acid and causes mucous membrane damage by itself.
Pelargonic aldehyde is also known as nonyl aldehyde which may be related to
pelargonic acid or result from reaction.
I have found one listing for Vanillin which of course is not vanillyamide
which does not indicate anything unusual ... with slight health,
flammability and contact ratings. However, the MSDS does say that if it is
inhaled, the subject should get medical attention after having the substance
flushed from their system.
One listing for ETHANOL-D6, anhydyrous, however shows the precautionary
labelling as having a severe health and severe flammability. The reactivity
and contact labelling were both slight. Is ethanol-d6 related to the ethanol
used in the product? At this point I don't know ... however, I spoke to a
woman who told me that ethanol itself is very ractive and can incapacitate
would-be attackers.
Oleoresin Capsicum, ironically seems to be less hazardous than ethanol-d6. I
do not have the specific hazard listed but it has the same warnings as vanillin.
I apologize for the length of this posting but these are the questions
remaining:
How is ethanol-d6 related to the ethanol used by First Defence?
What are the combined effects of all of these substances?
Are they documented?
Can some people have extreme reactions to any of these substances?
Can vanillin induce some "anaphylactic responses"?
Are there chemical databases that are more analytic, that is, with more
information about possible effects?
By the way, the inquiry determined that the Thunder Bay man died as a result
of positional asphyxia ... he died on his stomach and could not breathe.
This has been the indicated cause of death in most of the thirty cases
studied. I am not yet convinced it is this simple.
An entirely seperate issue is the use of Depo-Provera as a contraceptive for
Native communities. I recall hearing several years ago that they were using
this substance to "chemically castrate" incarcerated sexual offenders. There
was also some talk about it being a carcinogen ... testicular cancer, I think.
So what gives?
By the way, the Thunder Bay Police Services Board did not renew my
appointment in 1994. I had been working on fifty unsolved homicide cases
involving Native people in this region. Many of the victims were young
Native women over a thirty year period. I had become very controversial.
I have since been working on some very "strange stuff".
(^_^)
Peace
Live Well
Die Well
philip
-- Philip Edwards pedwards@mail.foxnet.net Grassroots Coalition of Thunder Bay