What is contained in a pepper ball?

• A. PAVA
• B. Water
• C. Pepper powder only
• D. CS agent

Answer: (A)

Pepper balls are designed to deliver a chemical irritant to incapacitate without causing lasting harm. The active payload used in these rounds is typically PAVA, a capsaicinoid-based irritant. When the ball breaks on impact, PAVA disperses as a fine irritant, triggering tearing, coughing, burning sensations, and inflammation of the eyes and airways—leading to temporary disorientation or compliance.

Water wouldn’t produce the irritant effect, so it wouldn’t incapacitate. Pepper powder alone isn’t reliably dispersed from a punctured shell and wouldn’t provide the controlled, rapid irritant exposure the system intends. CS agent is a different irritant used in some devices, but in this context the standard payload described is PAVA, making it the best answer for what a pepper ball contains.