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| | Health Hazards of Pepper Spray |
 | | A conflict of interest investigation by the FBI Academy Firearms Training Unit in Quantico, VA (which had produced the earlier, favorable report on OC sprays) revealed that one of their researchers had received $57,500 from the manufacturer and distributor of Cap-Stun, a widely used brand of OC spray. |
 | | A review of reported injuries found that 61 of approximately 6000 officers directly exposed to OC spray during training experienced adverse effects (eye irritation, eye burns and abrasions, dyspnea, asthma attacks, nasal irritation, acute hypertension, severe headaches, chest pain and loss of consciousness) sufficiently severe to require medical attention. |
 | | Use of OC to inflict pain is abusive and may cause emotional sequelae.(31) At least one court has ruled that pepper spray should be used only when absolutely necessary to incapacitate dangerous youth "in situations which are reasonably likely to result in injury to persons or injury to a substantial amount of valuable property."(32) |
| www.nopepperspray.org /health_hazards_of_pepper_spray_ncjm.htm (3523 words) |
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