What is tear gas?
Tear gas is a term used to refer to several different riot control agents that temporarily constrain people by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin. Tear gas effects usually last 15-30 minutes after a person has left the exposure area and cleaned off. Examples of tear gas chemicals include chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) and oleoresin capsicum (OC; pepper spray).