Effects of Pepper Gas Exposure in Non-combatant Bystanders.

NCT01922700 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PEPPER01
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 298
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Pepper sprays and pepper gas grenades are used by riot police at various places in the world for crowd control. Data about the acute effects based on human studies is extremely scarce. Kashmir valley in the northern Indian state of Jammu \& Kashmir has witnessed political turmoil for the past 22 years and incidents of stone pelting are common wherein groups of youth indulge in stone pelting at the security personnel. While there have been previous episodes of fatalities associated with incidents of firing by the security personnel; non lethal methods are adopted routinely now. These include lathis, water cannons, tear gas and more recently the pepper gas grenades. The pepper grenades explode in the area and the adverse effects are perceived by the population in the area too who are even sitting in their homes. The study proposes to observe the health effects of the pepper gas exposure in non-combatant civilians.

Conditions

Cough; Irritation in Throat; Irritation in Skin; Lacrimation

Keywords

Pepper spray; bronchospasm; lacrimation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Development of cough, irritation in throat, nasal irritation, nasal discharge, wheezing, breathlessness, hemoptysis, chest pain upon exposure or worsening of already existing cough, breathlessness, wheezing of a previous respiratory illness.

  24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Duration of symptoms developed

  10 days

Other Outcomes (1)

• Development of other non-respiratory symptoms which include (but not limited to) skin irritation, skin rash, lacrimation, visual disturbances, vomiting, any other GI symptom, headache, fever, seizures or any other neurological symptom and their duration

  24 hours

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community based non-combatant individuals exposed to pepper gases while being used on combatants.

You may qualify if:

• All participants with a history of exposure to pepper gas grenade explosion

You may not qualify if:

• Combatant role while exposure

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences: lead

Study Sites (1)

SheriKashmir Institute of Medical Sciences

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190011, India

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Cil H, Atilgan ZA, Islamoglu Y, Tekbas EO, Dostbil Z. Is the pepper spray a triggering factor in myocardial infarction? A case report. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2012 Mar;16 Suppl 1:73-4.

  PMID: 22582490 BACKGROUND

• Holopainen JM, Moilanen JA, Hack T, Tervo TM. Toxic carriers in pepper sprays may cause corneal erosion. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2003 Feb 1;186(3):155-62. doi: 10.1016/s0041-008x(02)00015-7.

  PMID: 12620368 RESULT

• Vesaluoma M, Muller L, Gallar J, Lambiase A, Moilanen J, Hack T, Belmonte C, Tervo T. Effects of oleoresin capsicum pepper spray on human corneal morphology and sensitivity. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000 Jul;41(8):2138-47.

  PMID: 10892855 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cough; Lacerations; Bronchial Spasm

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Wounds and Injuries; Bronchial Diseases

Study Officials

• Parvaiz Koul, MD, FRCP, FACP

  Professor & Head, Internal & Pulmonary Medicine, SKIMS,Srinagar 190011 , J&K (India)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: ECOLOGIC OR COMMUNITY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor & Head, Internal & Pulmonary Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2013
• First Posted: August 14, 2013
• Study Start: April 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2013
• Study Completion: October 1, 2013
• Last Updated: July 21, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-07

Locations

IN (1)