Injuries after use of the lacrimatory agent chloroacetophenone in a confined space.

When the lacrimatory agent chloroacetophenone was released into 44 prisoner cells, 8 prisoners required hospitalization and 20 more received outpatient physician care for injuries. Contact with water contributed to the injuries caused by chloroacetophenone, but prolonged exposure in a confined space was probably the principal cause of morbidity. In a confined space the lacrimatory agent chloroacetophenone is relatively toxic.