title: Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile tear gas exposure: Rinsing with amphoteric, hypertonic, and chelating solution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) is the tear gas used by the police. The aim was to evaluate an amphoteric, hypertonic, and chelating rinsing solution in CS exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first (CS) group of six police officers was exposed to CS only. The second (preexposure) group of eight sprayed their faces with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution before CS exposure. The third (postexposure) group of eight sprayed their faces with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution after CS exposure. The time between exiting the CS cloud and arriving at the "ready for action" checkpoint was measured. Their facial pain both inside the CS cloud and at the checkpoint was assessed (0-10 points).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain level inside the CS cloud was significantly lower in the preexposed group (5.6 ± 1.1; p = 0.01) than in the CS group (9.7 ± 0.5) and in the postexposure group (9.1 ± 0.4) where it was similar. The time interval between CS exposure and arrival at the checkpoint in the preexposure group (1:26 ± 0:44 min) was significantly shorter than both in the CS group (2:28 ± 0:25 min; p = 0.04) and postexposure group (2:30 ± 0:48 min; p = 0.02) where it was not different. The residual pain at the checkpoint in the preexposure (1.1 ± 0.4) and postexposure (1.4 ± 0.7) groups was similar with a significant lower pain level than in the CS group (2.3 ± 0.5; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CS decontamination with an aqueous, hypertonic, amphoteric, and chelating solution reduces facial pain, whereas prevention with it reduces pain and recovery time.
authors: Poison Control Centre, Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia miran.brvar@kclj.si.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Brvar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016495:Police; D013665:Tear Gases / Q000633:toxicity*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D009763:o-Chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D013665:Tear Gases; D009763:o-Chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile
keywords: Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; amphoteric; chelating solution; decontamination; hypertonic; tear gas