As protests continue to erupt in different parts of Kenya, one troubling trend has remained constant — the repeated use of tear gas by security forces to control and disperse crowds.
What was originally meant to be a short-term crowd control measure has now become a routine response, especially during demonstrations in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).
Tear gas is now a familiar part of protest scenes in Kenya, but many people still don’t fully understand what it is, how it works, and the health dangers it may pose.
Scientific studies have provided some surprising insights into the chemical’s effects, raising growing concerns among medical experts and human rights defenders.
What is Tear Gas and How Does It Work?
Despite the common name, “tear gas” isn’t an actual gas. It’s a chemical powder that is stored under pressure inside canisters.
When released, it disperses into the air in the form of a fine mist or vapor. The most widely used type of tear gas is known as 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, or CS gas.
It was discovered in 1959 by two American researchers and was quickly adopted by law enforcement in the United States as a go-to method for crowd control.
When CS gas is released, it activates pain receptors in the human body called TRPA1 and TRPV1. These receptors are responsible for sensing pain and temperature.
Once triggered, they cause a range of reactions including intense burning in the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Within seconds of exposure, people usually start coughing, choking, tearing up, and in some cases, even suffer from temporary blindness.
These immediate symptoms often force people to flee the area, which is why security officers find tear gas effective for dispersing large gatherings.
Long-Term Health Risks Raise Concern
While tear gas may quickly break up crowds, its use is not without serious consequences. Experts warn that repeated or prolonged exposure to CS gas can lead to lasting health problems.
In Kenya, concerns are heightened by the way police often deploy tear gas — not just into the air, but directly into crowds, aiming the canisters at people’s heads or chests. This turns them into both chemical threats and dangerous projectiles that can cause physical injuries.
Doctors and health professionals say that even though the immediate effects of tear gas are usually temporary — such as eye irritation, skin rashes, and coughing — longer exposure or repeated inhalation can result in much more serious health issues.
People with existing respiratory illnesses, like asthma or bronchitis, are especially at risk. For them, breathing in tear gas could lead to severe complications, including lung damage or respiratory failure.
Over time, exposure to tear gas can damage the eyes, causing issues such as corneal erosion, which affects the eye’s outer layer and can lead to vision loss or even blindness. There have also been cases of nerve damage, internal bleeding, and other serious complications following high exposure.
According to the global health group Physicians for Human Rights, tear gas can also increase a person’s heart rate, which can lead to high blood pressure.
For individuals with underlying heart problems — even those who are unaware they have a condition — this sudden increase in heart activity can potentially result in a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
There is also a severe risk when people are exposed to large amounts of tear gas in small or enclosed spaces. In such cases, the concentration of the chemical becomes so high that it can lead to suffocation or death in a matter of minutes.
How to Protect Yourself: Basic Treatment and Safety Tips
Currently, there is no known cure or antidote for tear gas exposure. The best defense is prevention — avoiding contact with the chemical entirely. However, in situations where one is exposed, there are important steps that can reduce harm.
Medical professionals recommend quickly moving away from the affected area and trying to get to a place with fresh air. Since tear gas vapor is heavier than air, it usually stays close to the ground. That means finding higher ground can help reduce the chances of inhaling the chemical.
It’s also important to remove any clothing that may have absorbed the gas. Tear gas particles can stick to fabric and continue to cause irritation if not properly washed off. Bathing with clean water and soap is essential to remove any residue from the skin.
While these measures help manage the symptoms, the bigger issue lies in the repeated use of tear gas by authorities.
With experts warning of the serious health risks involved, especially for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, calls are growing for the government to reconsider its approach to crowd control.
As the protests go on, so does the debate about the safety, ethics, and human rights implications of using tear gas — a tool that may cause more harm than it prevents.
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