TEAR GAS SHELLS - Intensity of shelling and use of expired shells A subject that has not become a part of the public discourse after the intensive Tear Gas shelling the other night at Islamabad is the intensity of the shelling and the use of outdated Tear Gas shells. The rate of shelling is governed by International Laws and Treaties to which Pakistan would be a signatory. Have these laws and treaties been broken? Tear Gas shells have a maximum life of 4 years and in civilized countries they are replaced every 2 years so as to make sure that no expired or out dated Tear Gas shells are used. Why? Because out dated or expired Tear Gas shells have been reported to be more harmful than the un-expired ones and its use may expose the Police to heavy law suits. While tear gas’ effects are usually limited to skin and eye irritations, prolonged exposure through heavy shelling of expired tear gas shells over a short period of time, as witnessed at Islamabad, may lead to complications of the respiratory and the nervous system, including suffocation, epileptic fits, coughing up blood and collapsing. Some experts contend that those exposed may suffer from more dangerous delayed health effects. The chemical compound used in most tear gas canisters is o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, known as CS. There are other, stronger chemical structures - one is called CN, which was a precursor of CS. And then there is CR, which is known to be a particularly potent version that is six times more powerful than CS. The use of CR is banned in the US because it can cause cancer. Investigation should be made as to the chemical compound of the Tear Gas shells used at Islamabad. I have no knowledge or experience in the field of public health and would suggest that the Doctors at PIMS and the Polyclinic should be asked for their views on health effects of the chemical compounds to which the protesters were exposed.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:21:48 +0000
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