What did the pepper spray feel like? Can it cause serious or lasting harm?
Capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray, is one of the most painful, noxious chemicals known. It is derived from the hottest red peppers, and is highly concentrated. It causes severe burning that lasts for hours and hours. It causes inflammation of respiratory tissue and disrupts the heart, thus rendering it extremely dangerous to people with asthma and/or heart conditions. It has been linked to numerous deaths throughout the country. When sprayed at a close range (as in the three incidents that this lawsuit is about) the potential exists for corneal damage and retinal separation. The long-term effects are not known.
