Which is the most accurate measure of OC pungency and level of incapacitation?

• A. Capsaicinoids
• B. Scoville Heat Units
• C. The color of the spray
• D. The canister size

Answer: (A)

Pungency and incapacitation from OC spray come down to the active capsaicinoids in the formulation. These are the compounds like capsaicin that cause the burning, tearing, and intense discomfort that leads to temporary incapacitation. The best way to gauge how strong a spray is is to look at the capsaicinoid content—often expressed as the percent capsaicinoids or the milligrams of capsaicinoids per can—because this directly reflects how much active irritant is being delivered. Scoville Heat Units, while familiar from peppers, aren’t a precise or standardized measure for OC sprays and don’t reliably reflect the spray’s real-world effect. The color of the spray tells you nothing about potency, and canister size only affects how long you can spray, not how strong the effect is. So the capsaicinoid content is the most accurate measure of pungency and incapacitation.