Recent riots in the university district left many in tears, not only for the violence and lost cars, but also from the pepper spray used by police.

Pepper spray, or Oleoresin Capsicm, is made from the oily extract of the cayenne pepper plant and is the active ingredient used in most self-defense sprays. It is significantly more effective than Mace, but is regarded as a safer and less toxic form of tear gas, according a study by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Pepper spray is often under scrutiny for its short and long-term effects since it has never been formally tested or regulated by the government; and numerous court cases have arisen from pepper spray use.

Aside from general irritation, pepper spray causes involuntary tearing and closing of the eyes, temporary paralysis of the larynx and uncontrollable coughing and gasping for air.

According to the study, for it to be most effective, it must be sprayed at least five feet away from the victim. But since that is not always possible, especially during an assault, the OC is mixed with pure tear gas, formally called O-Chlorobenzylidene-malononitrile, or CS.

“When ground fighting, it’s hard to get a good facial spray,” said officer Floyd Wise of the Columbus Division of Police. “That’s why we mix our pepper spray with CS.”

Wise has found pepper spray to be more effective, faster and less threatening when dealing with irate people.

“If an officer is working patrol and someone wants to get physical, rather than using batons or force, the officer would use mace or pepper spray,” Wise said. “It only takes one or two seconds for the spray to take effect.”

Wise also said the use of sprays as a defense instead of force has helped lessen the brutality charges police can face when detaining a person.

The Columbus Division of Police uses a spray that is 1 percent CS, which is 50 percent weaker than most of the over-the-counter sprays used by citizens. The percentage indicates the amount of red pepper contained in the spray. Wise also said it is against federal law to use anything above 10 percent CS on a human.

Pepper spray was originally used by FBI personnel and U.S. mail carriers when it was first made available in 1973. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that it was dispersed to law enforcement and the general public. Sprays are most commonly sold in key chain forms and home units.

“Millions are sold yearly,” said Marie Walker, executive assistant in sales for Johnson Enterprises, a self-defense spray retailer. “We sell mostly to women and college students, or men who are buying it for women they know. Two percent (CS) is the average sold, but some places sell sprays that go up to 15 percent.”

Walker also said sprays are the best self-defense for women because they are not lethal, unlike guns. But because of the severity of the pain, and partial blockage of the respiratory system that may occur, pepper sprays have repeatedly been tested by medical agencies and universities.

Most studies have shown that, aside from a slight increase in blood pressure or body temperature, self-defense sprays produce no significant risk in terms of respiratory and pulmonary functions.

But others have shown that chemical burns and abrasions to the eyes can occur when exposed to pepper spray.

Whatever the outcome, pepper spray is said to be less potent than it was in the past.

“Recovery time is generally 30 minutes,” Wise said. “It’s much better now. It used to be a recovery time of an hour to an hour and a half.”

According to the University of California Police Department, the best immediate treatment is exposure to fresh air and a breeze, if possible.