The
active ingredient in pepper spray is oleoresin capsicum (OC), a natural oil
found in many types of hot peppers, including cayenne peppers and other chili
peppers. OC contains a compound called capsaicin, which is what's responsible
for the spicy sensation when you eat a hot pepper. It's odorless, colorless,
and even flavorless, but just one milligram (about 0.00003 ounces) of pure
capsaicin is enough to cause blisters to form on your skin.
Pepper
spray is usually dispensed from an aerosol canister. To make it easier to
spray, OC oil is mixed with a water-based or oil-based solution. It's also
mixed with a propellant, a solution that allows it to shoot outward, and then
the entire solution is pressurized inside the canister. Using an aerosol
canister allows you to spray farther -- and in many cases wider -- than other
types of spray containers. There are three common spray patterns for liquid
pepper spray dispensers:
1.Stream
-- A narrow stream of liquid is expelled. This concentrates the solution on the
area being sprayed, but is more difficult to aim accurately.
2.Mist
-- A mist of fine liquid is sprayed. This allows the spray to cover a larger
area and makes it easier to hit the target's face.
3.Fog
-- A fog is similar to a mist but has a wider range of spray.
Most
personal pepper spray dispensers are around 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) tall and about
1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide, with a button or trigger to release the spray, and a
safety mechanism to help prevent accidents. These dispensers are small enough
to be carried in a pocket or a purse and relatively light, and can dispense
anywhere from one to 60 bursts of pepper spray solution.
Although pepper spray can be concealed in something as innocent as a pink lipstick tube,
its effects are very serious. Continue reading to find out what happens to the
body when a person is sprayed with pepper spray.
