ABSTRACT
A wide variety of agents have been studied as incapacitants. The location of the acute effects of riot control agents is thought to be somewhat dependent on particle size. Agents that severely irritate the tracheobronchial tree and also commonly produce pulmonary edema are generally classed as choking agents. Agents with a particular respiratory toxicity or a primary inhalational route of entry have been selected from a wider range of potential biologic poisons. Both chemical and “natural” toxins are included. A wide variety of chemical exposures both intentional and unintentional, may occur in battlefield conditions. Inhalational exposures appear to produce a biphasic response, with both immediate and delayed toxic effects. With less severe exposures a mild tracheal injury with an inflammatory bronchitis is seen. With mild exposure there is a reddened oropharynx with some endothelial inflammation extending peripherally to the level of the smaller airways.
