In today’s world, riots are one of the most common ways for people to protest for their rights. Law enforcement (the police or the military) are allowed to legally use tear gas in order to control the crowds when the situation tends to become more violent.
In order to protect themselves from the effects of tear gas, both the law enforcement and the crowd use gas masks, especially designed to filter chemicals. This way, they can prevent tear gas from reaching their eyes or their lungs, which are the main two body parts affected immediately after the gas is inhaled.
Our recommendation regarding the best gas mask for tear gas, is the Avon Full Face Respirator M50 which offers maximum security and protection from gas, keeping the eyes, the nose and the mouth of the user safe for an affordable price.
In this article, we have gathered information about the ways you can protect yourself from the harmful effects of tear gas, emphasizing on the safety provided by protective masks and respirators you can easily find in the market.
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What is tear gas?

Tear gas is essentially a chemical weapon in the form of gas, which is mainly use by the law enforcement in order to suppress uncontrolled riots, specifically those that burst in the streets including violence.
As a chemical weapon, tear gas is worldwide forbidden internationally, although the police or the army are not banned from using it with the purpose of serving the citizens when it comes to protecting them from riots.
The former name of the tear gas was lachrymator, or more commonly known as lachrymatory agent. The origins of the word lachrymatory come from the word lacrima, which means tear. Pepper spray, Mace, CN (chloroacetophenone) gas and CS (chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile) gas are some of the most famous lachrymators that could be characterized as alternative forms of tear gas.
The law enforcement, more specifically the army and the police, make use of various forms of tear gas against riots. The most common ways of tear gas usage is in the form of gas grenades or cans (aerosol type), which utilize the liquid making it into gas through pressure.
What are the effects of tear gas?

The exposure to tear gas, especially for long periods of time, comes with side effects that can harm the health of the exposed individual. The best way to avoid breathing tear gas, is by using a gas mask or a respirator with chemical filtering.
The first symptoms you will face when you get in touch or breath tear gas, is tears and extensive tingling in the eyes and the area of the face. Tear gas causes irritation to the mucous membranes, making your eyes start producing tears and causing an annoying feeling of pain.
Other effects caused by the tear gas is issues in the respiratory system when inhaled, heavy couching that can last for hours. Along with the couching comes sneezing, and for the more sensitive groups of people such as the seniors or children, headaches and vomiting might also appear.
Treatments for tear gas exposure
Fortunately, the effects of tear gas are not heavy and people tend to overcome them after a few hours, usually 2 to 3 depending on the exposure. Below, we have made a list of treatments for faster cure of the tear gas symptoms:
- Take a shower. One of the best ways to get rid of the tear gas. Make sure that you use cold water and use soap to clean the tear gas completely.
- Wash your eyes properly. Use cold water to wash tear gas off your eyes, by turning your head to the side, so that the water can wash off the tears from one side to another. Repeat from the other side.
- Change your clothes. Clothes are like sponges. They tend to suck the tear gas and hold on to it until you wash them. Remove them as soon as possible, and wear clean clothing.
- Blow your nose and cough. Help the tear gas get out of your system by coughing and blowing your nose. It is the fastest way to get rid off it.
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Best gas mask for tear gas

We talked about how to treat tear gas symptoms, although the best way to avoid getting them is by using one of the gas masks for tear gas recommended in the list below. After extensive research, these are the 5 best gas mask models for tear gas and chemicals:
1 – Top choice – Avon Full Face Respirator M50
- 【Comfortable & Sealed】- The sealing edge is...
- 【Fully Adjustable Comfort Strap】- Full Face...
- 【Longer Service Life】- Reusable design. Get...
- 【Ideal for Workplaces And Play】- Suitable for...
- 【Satisfactory Service】- Package includes: 1x...
The number one choice for NBC protection, specifically for tear gas in the particular situation is the Avon Full Face Respirator M50 which you can check out here. Definitely, we are talking about a gas mask of supreme quality, which can be easily compared to the majority of protective masks in the market.
As far as tear gas protection is concerned, the M50 can provide maximum levels of safety to the user, since it was designed and manufactured to act against chemical agents. It comes at a slightly higher price in comparison to the competition, but it is highly recommended for effective chemical neutralization.
2 – Runner up – 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece
- Large lens provides a wide field of view for...
- Lightweight well-balanced design and silicone...
- Available in air-purifying and supplied air...
- Center adapter directs exhaled breath downward
- 3M Cool Flow Valve makes breathing easier to...
Next in the list is the 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece. Another respirator of significant quality, allows the wearer to stay protected from tear gas under its cover no matter the level of exposure. The Scotchgard paint, offer resistance to liquid and helps wiping them easily from its surface for convenience.
Along with the easiness as far as the cleaning of the mask is concerned, the large viewing area provides comfort and excellent overall control by enhancing the visibility of the owner. You can count on the longevity of the item, and the durability of its materials.
3 – MIRA SAFETY Full Facepiece Respirator
- LARGE LENS: Provides a wide field of view for...
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Well-balanced design and silicone...
- 3M COOL FLOW VALVE: Makes breathing easier to...
- CENTER ADAPTER: Directs exhaled breath downward
- COMPATIBLE WITH: 3M TR-600 and TR-800 powered air...
If protection from chemicals is the purpose of the gas mask we are looking for, the MIRA SAFETY Full Facepiece Respirator is the answer to our research. This protective mask model is the go-to option for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare, since it is one of the most trustful solutions.
It can eliminate tear gas and almost all types of chemical gases, keeping the user protected under its magnificent sealing for long periods of time. You can use the gas mask for a variety of different purposes without issues, and it is a great investment for preppers and survivalists.
4 – SCK Full Face Respirator Gas Mask
- Vapors and particulates depending on your...
- Dark Grey
- Large
Moving on, our next recommendation is the SCK Full Face Respirator Gas Mask which you can find here. It is a highly effective gas mask against tear gas, and it wears very comfortably. The reason of its comfort and flexibility is its silicone-made structure, which prevents allergies and helps it fit on heads of every shape.
There is a large number of applications for the particular respirator, although NBC protection is its primary purpose. In the package, there are 2 organic vapor cartridges included, along with 1 reusable facepiece.
5 – Israeli Rubber Respirator Mask
- LOW COST OF OWNERSHIP: Mask reusability eliminates...
- COMFORT & FIT: The design includes a nosecup, to...
- EASY TO USE: Full face respirator features...
- SAFETY & COMPLIANCE: Meets ANSI Z87.1 high-impact...
- FLEXIBILITY IN APPLICATION: Perfect for any...
The last recommendation is not the weakest at all. The Israeli Rubber Respirator Mask is one of the best options when it comes to dealing with chemical gases such as tear gas or pepper spray, since it has all the necessary specifications for chemical warfare.
It comes at all sizes, it has a fairly large viewing area and provides great chemical filtering for absolute safety during a tear gas attack in riots etc. The mask is fairly lightweight, it can be maintained easily in appropriate places and has the essential compatibility with all 40mm filter cartridges.
Tear gas effects
The use of tear gas has come under the scope after the use of these chemical-based weapons on children. While it may possess the low risk of health to adults but its effect can be severe for kids.
In many countries, the use of tear gas is banned as it is also a chemical weapon but in some countries, it is still used to control the mass crowd. The police use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protestors when it gets out of control.
How does tear gas affect your body?
Most of the time the tear gas has only short-term issues and does not cause too much hard to your physical fitness.
But it may end up causing destabilization among your physical and emotional health. The chemical weapons might cause another harm to your body.
What is tear gas?
The common chemical agent used in most of the tear gas is 2-Chlorobenzaldene lamonitrile (CS). It might be called tear gas but in reality, it is an aerosol.
CS retains solid form at room temperature but when you mix it with a liquid or a gas then it can be used as a weapon to activate pain sensors in your body. The first use of this gas was in the first World War where Germany and France both used it.
It was first developed in 1928, by Roger Stoughton and Ben Corson. According to the Geneva Convention, the use of tear gas is considered a chemical warfare agent. It is still used on civilians in the most country to control the crowd.
Tear gas symptoms
When tear gas is used then it will affect your eyes, nose, lungs, and mouth. It will cause irritation in various body parts. The effect of tear gas will start about 30 seconds after its used.
The person who comes in contact with the tear gas will feel burning sensation in the eyes and the eyes start to get watery. It might become hard to breathe and chest pains, skin irritation, and excessive saliva are some common issues.
If a person is in contact with tear gas for too long then you might face issues like diarrhea and vomiting.
Chemical Compounds used to make Tear Gas
Tear gas is also considered as lachrymator substance, which is known to cause tearing effect in the eyes. As mentioned above you can face several effects if tear gas is used on you.
If you want to know about Tear Gas Effects: How Does it Affect Your Body then you need to first learn about its chemical composition. The most common tear gas agents you can find is chlorobenzylidene malononitrile and chloroacetophenone.
You might have also heard of pepper spray which is another form of tear gas. As these chemical are used you body’s pain receptors will feel pain and it will cause burning feel in your house which will result in teary eyes.
What is the reason for the unpleasant sensation due to tear gas?
In order to learn more about Tear Gas Effects: How Does it Affect Your Body, you need to learn why it causes an unpleasant sensation. When the tear gas is used then it might cause a stingy and burning feeling in your eyes.
You will face issues like watery eyes, runny nose and tight chest which is common symptoms. Most symptoms are supposed to last from 20-30 minutes but there are some issues which can cause long-lasting health issues.
Due to the exposure to tear gas, you might face chronic skin reaching. The chemical burns can cause troubles for your skin. If you scratch your eyes rashly then it might cause a corneal abrasion.
To get rid of all these side effects you might need weeks for recovery. The smoke from tear gas might also affect your respiratory system.
Why children should be kept at a distance from tear gas?
As you already know that children are more prone to health issues and if they get in contact with tear gas then its effect can be harmful to them. So you need to be aware of Tear Gas Effects: How Does it Affect Your Body.
While adults know the right thing to do when they are in such a situation but the kids might not be able to do so.
Adults first reaction to the tear gas will be to close their eyes and then cover it. But the kids do not know about that and it will surely affect their eyes.
It won’t stop at physical health, after experiencing a tear gas attack the kid will surely face a psychological trauma. Such things need to be avoided as much as possible in order to protect the kids.
While it may be hard to determine how much it will affect your body but you need to make sure that you do not inhale too much of the gas.
If you remain in the gas for too long then it will cause lung issues. So you need to know about Tear Gas Effects: How Does it Affect Your Body.
How to prevent yourself from tear gas attacks?
One thing you can do to protect yourself from tear gas attacks is to prevent yourself from taking place in a protest. You might have learned all about Tear Gas Effects: How Does it Affect Your Body.
If the crowd gets violent and start damaging public property then the use of tear gas becomes mandatory.
You need to make sure that you remain at the back of the crowd so that you can get away easily. If you inhale the gas then you need to visit your doctors right now.
Tips to avoid tear gas
If you came in contact with tear gas then you need to get far away from it. The first thing you need to do is inhale some fresh air and the wash your eyes properly.
You need to wash it as much as possible in order to properly remove all the chemicals. It is important to use soap to wash your face as it will easily remove the chemicals.
The gas particles might remain in your clothes so you need to change your clothes. You do not have to worry and after that, you can visit your doctors to get a full checkup.
Conclusion

Although tear gas effects and symptoms are temporary, they have to be treated with seriousness instantly after the incident. Gas masks are the best way to avoid inhaling tear gas, by acquiring a model specifically designed for chemical resistance.