When clouds of tear gas waft through the air, those nearby will feel their eyes become irritated as they begin to blink involuntarily. Their noses will burn and run, causing them to sneeze, while their lips and skin will feel as if they are on fire. They might begin to cough. But, ultimately, says Satya Achanta, an anesthesiologist at the Duke University School of Medicine who studies tear gas, the sensation feels like choking. “The victims feel as if they’re experiencing asphyxiation and chest tightness,” he says.
As mass demonstrations continue across all 50 states just over a week after the death of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis, law enforcement agencies have widely used tear gas to disperse protesters. According to Achanta, the sharp burning caused by tear gas compels victims to leave the area as they become unable to cope with pain and irritation. “They feel the urgency to flee from the scene, seeking fresh air,” he says.
