An evaluation of the relative potential public health concern for the self-defense spray active ingredients oleoresin capsicum, o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, and 2-chloroacetophenone.

In 1996, the New York State Department of Health was charged by the State Legislature to develop regulations regarding the types of self-defense spray devices which could lawfully be purchased, possessed, and used in New York State. Prior to this legislation, sale or possession of self-defense spray devices in New York State was illegal. The Department of Health used existing data to evaluate three commonly used self-defense spray active ingredients (oleoresin capsicum, o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, and 2-chloroacetophenone) with respect to their relative toxicity and their involvement in accidental poisonings. Based on the balance of the available information, the Department of Health determined that oleoresin capsicum posed a lower public health concern than o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile or 2-chloroacetophenone, and developed a rule that specifies oleoresin capsicum as the only active ingredient to be used in self-defense sprays for sale and use in New York State.