Determination of Major Heavy Metal Levels in Pepper Gas Used as Chemical Agents in CBRN Field

Year 2024, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 226 - 235, 28.08.2024

Eda Arici , Mümin Polat

https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1480468

Abstract

Introduction: The pepper gases used in the study are in the group of riot control agents. In this study; It was aimed to determine the main heavy metal levels of pepper gases obtained from capsaicin, the active ingredient of peppers grown in soil that we think may contain heavy metals.

Material and Method: The presence of a total of 7 heavy metals, including iron, chromium, cobalt, copper, cadmium, lead and nickel, was investigated. The pepper gas sprays were subjected to sample preparation with a microwave combustion device. Then, heavy metal analyzes of the prepared samples were carried out with the ICP OES device.

Results: According to this; As a result of the measurements, Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd) and Cobalt (Co) elements were not found in any of the samples. The amount of Lead (Pb) was determined as 0.653±0.064 mg/kg, and the amount of Iron (Fe) was 5.246±0.000 mg/kg. Finally, the Copper (Cu) element detected in a single sample was measured as 0.815 mg/kg.

Discussion and Conclusion: We also think that the necessary sensitivity should be shown in laboratory and clinical studies to examine the content of pepper spray and to determine the optimum ratios of its active ingredients. We foresee that preparing promotional brochures, informative public service ads on topics such as what pepper gas is in what situations pepper gas should be used, and informing the public about the health problems it may cause will increase the conscious use of pepper gas.

Keywords

heavy metal; pepper gas; CBRN, inhalation, public health.

Project Number

0880-YL-23

KBRN Alanında Kimyasal Ajan Olarak Kullanılan Biber Gazlarında Başlıca Ağır Metal Düzeylerinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Giriş: Araştırmada kullanılan biber gazları kargaşa kontrol ajanları grubunda yer almaktadır. Bu çalışmada; ağır metal içerebileceğini düşündüğümüz topraklarda yetiştirilen biberlerin etken maddesi olan kapsaisin'den elde edilen biber gazlarının başlıca ağır metal düzeylerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.

Materyal ve Metot: Demir, krom, kobalt, bakır, kadmiyum, kurşun ve nikel olmak üzere toplam 7 ağır metalin varlığı araştırıldı. Biber gazı spreyleri mikrodalga yakma cihazı ile numune hazırlamaya tabi tutuldu. Daha sonra hazırlanan numunelerin ICP OES cihazı ile ağır metal analizleri yapıldı.

Bulgular: Buna göre; yapılan ölçümler sonucunda numunelerin hiçbirinde Krom (Cr), Nikel (Ni), Kadmiyum (Cd) ve Kobalt (Co) elementlerine rastlanmadı. Kurşun (Pb) miktarı 0,653±0,064 mg/kg, Demir (Fe) miktarı ise 5,246±0,000 mg/kg olarak belirlendi. Son olarak tek bir numunede tespit edilen Bakır (Cu) elementi 0,815 mg/kg olarak ölçülmüştür.

Tartışma ve Sonuç: Biber gazının içeriğinin incelenmesi ve etken maddelerinin optimum oranlarının belirlenmesi konusunda laboratuvar ve klinik çalışmalarda da gerekli hassasiyetin gösterilmesi gerektiğini düşünmekteyiz. Biber gazının olası etkilerinin ne olduğu, hangi durumlarda kullanılması gerektiği gibi konularda tanıtım broşürleri hazırlanması, bilgilendirici kamu spotları hazırlanması, yol açabileceği sağlık sorunları konusunda kamuoyunun bilgilendirilmesinin biber gazının bilinçli kullanımını artıracağını öngörmekteyiz.

Keywords

Ağır Metal,, Biber Gazı, KBRN

Supporting Institution

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi BAP Koordinatörlüğü

Project Number

0880-YL-23

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