TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of “passive tear gas exposure” JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P4131 AU - Eda Uslu AU - Gulcihan Ozkan AU - Fatih Torlak AU - Peri Arbak AU - Elif Dagli Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4131.abstract N2 - Introduction: Tear gas has been used as crowd control agent as direct exposure is believed to have an immediate reaction on the target group. However, there is little information about the health effects of environmental exposure on the individuals in vicinity.Aim: The study aims to investigate the effect of tear gas on the residents neighboring the demonstration site who have been involuntarily exposed frequently in a duration of one month.Methods: The respiratory symptoms and lung functions of 105 volunteers, who lived close to “Taksim Gezi Park” where protests took place in June 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey, were investigated.Results: The average age of the subjects was 36 years and 51 % was female, 70% smokers, 28 % had a chronic disease and 31% complained breathlessness after the gas exposure. 30% was exposed to gas outdoors in close proximity, 38% indoors. Breathlessness were reported by 76%, cough 89%, sputum 44%, chest pain 41%, bloody sputum 4%, nasal discharge 76%, eye redness 84%, skin irritation 46%. Cough symptom was significantly higher in the ones who were exposed to the gas indoors. (95%vs 74% p=0,007). Sputum production was a more common complaint with indoor exposure compared with outdoor distant exposure ( 50%vs18% P=0,002).Lung function measurements were on average FVC 100,5 % FEV 96,4 %, FEV1/FVC 99,4 %, MMFR 88,1% predicted. MMFR were found less than 65% predicted in 19% of the subjects showing isolated small airway obstruction.Conclusion: The results of the study has shown that tear gas has environmental health effects. Repeated use of tear gas during a protest with a long duration may harm respiratory health of the people living and working in the district. Tear gas must be controlled legally like tobacco smoke. ER -