Mónica Kräuter (born 18 September 1967) is a
Venezuelan chemist and professor of the
Simón Bolívar University. Kräuter gained notability during the
2017 Venezuelan protests
The 2017 Venezuelan protests were a series of protests occurring throughout Venezuela. Protests began in January 2017 after the arrest of multiple opposition leaders and the cancellation of dialogue between the opposition and Nicolás Maduro's g ...
due to her study of
tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ...
canisters and her advice on how to protect against its effects.
Career
Mónica Kräuter graduated as a chemist from
Simón Bolívar University in 1993, and she obtained a master's degree in chemistry with an environment specialty in 2000 at Simón Bolívar University as well. She has been a professor of the university in the systems and processes department since her graduation.
She carried out a study that involved the collection of thousands of tear gas canisters fired by Venezuelan authorities in 2014. She stated that the majority of canisters used the main component
CS gas
The compound 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called ''o''-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agen ...
, supplied by Cóndor of Brazil, which meets
Geneva Convention
upright=1.15, Original document in single pages, 1864
The Geneva Conventions are four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish international legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war. The singular term ''Geneva Conve ...
requirements, but that 72% of the tear gas used was expired and other canisters produced in Venezuela by
Cavim
, type = State-owned company
, location =
, industry = defense
, founded =
, founder =
, hq_location_city = Caracas, Capital District
, hq_location_country = Venezuela
, num_locations =
, num_locations_year =
, area_served ...
did not show adequate labels or expiration dates. Following the expiration of tear gas, she notes that it "breaks down into
cyanide
Cyanide is a naturally occurring, rapidly acting, toxic chemical that can exist in many different forms.
In chemistry, a cyanide () is a chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of ...
oxide,
phosgenes and
nitrogen
Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...
s that are extremely dangerous". Kräuter has advised against the use of
vinegar
Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation, converting simple sugars to eth ...
to neutralize the effects of tear gas since it is an
acid, instead recommending the use of
sodium bicarbonate or
antacids
An antacid is a substance which neutralizes stomach acidity and is used to relieve heartburn, indigestion or an upset stomach. Some antacids have been used in the treatment of constipation and diarrhea. Marketed antacids contain salts of alu ...
such as
Maalox
Maalox is a brand of antacid owned by Sanofi. Their main product is a flavored liquid containing a suspension of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, which act to neutralize or reduce stomach acid, for the purpose of relieving the symptom ...
.
In 2018 she was listed by
Americas Quarterly
''Americas Quarterly (AQ)'' is a publication dedicated to politics, business and culture in the Americas.
Distribution
''AQ'' has an established relationship with NTN24, an online news channel from Colombia with three million viewers, to broadc ...
as one of the ''10 People Who Will (One Day) Rebuild Venezuela.''
See also
*
Tear gas
Tear gas, also known as a lachrymator agent or lachrymator (), sometimes colloquially known as "mace" after the early commercial aerosol, is a chemical weapon that stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland in the eye to produce tears. In ...
*
2017 Venezuelan protests
The 2017 Venezuelan protests were a series of protests occurring throughout Venezuela. Protests began in January 2017 after the arrest of multiple opposition leaders and the cancellation of dialogue between the opposition and Nicolás Maduro's g ...
*
2014 Venezuelan protests
In 2014, a series of protests, political demonstrations, and civil insurrection began in Venezuela due to the country's high levels of urban violence, inflation, and chronic shortages of basic goods attributed to economic policies such as strict ...
References
External links
BOMBAS LACRIMÓGENAS Y CÓMO PROTEGERSE(Tear gas canisters and how to protect against them) by Prof. Mónica Kräuter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krauter, Monica
Living people
1967 births
Simón Bolívar University (Venezuela) faculty
21st-century Venezuelan women scientists
Simón Bolívar University (Venezuela) alumni
Venezuelan women educators
2014 Venezuelan protests
2017 Venezuelan protests