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Chemical Crowd Control Agents

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Clinical Forensic Medicine

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Abstract

Chemical crowd control agents (CCCAs) are used to produce temporary incapacitation of an individual or a group of individuals without the need for physical force. Whilst use of these agents is relatively benign, there are reports of serious toxicity typically when these agents have been used at high concentration, in confined spaces, or through prolonged exposure. A wide variety of physiological effects may result, with the most common clinical findings being pain, burning, and irritation of exposed mucous membranes and skin. More lethal methods of chemical control may be used, with exposure to fentanyl (and derivatives) and nerve agents discussed. Individuals will often present in extremis quickly after exposure to these more potent chemicals, and recognition of signs and symptoms of their toxicity is important to enable timely administration of antidotes. With all these chemicals it is also important to understand the risk they pose to healthcare professionals and the appropriate measures that should be taken to minimise the chance of secondary exposure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Sarah L. Belsey

  2. Berkeley, CA, USA

    Steven B. Karch

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  1. Sarah L. Belsey
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  2. Steven B. Karch
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Correspondence to Steven B. Karch .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians, London, UK

    Margaret M. Stark

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Belsey, S.L., Karch, S.B. (2020). Chemical Crowd Control Agents. In: Stark, M. (eds) Clinical Forensic Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29462-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29462-5_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29461-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29462-5

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