Thekeyactiveingredient, called 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrileis a chemicalthatactivateslargeamountsofpainreceptorsintheeyesandrespiratorysystembyirritatingthemembranes.
Somesuggestusingsalinesolutionsormilktocounteracttheacidityintheteargas, buttheonlytrulyeffectiverinseiswithdiphoterine, whichis a solutionusedtodecontaminatechemicalsplashesbyneutralizingacids.
Therehavebeen a somestudiesdonetomeasureshorttermandlongtermeffects, butthesamplepopulationintheexperimentshavebeenrathersmall, whichcanleadtopotentialsystematicbiasanderrorinmeasuringtheresults.