Scoville Pepper Heat Chart – Information Graphics that Shape the Conversation

© Ugur Akinci
Sometimes information graphics hit the bulls-eye.
Here is one such graphic, throwing precious light on a recent news event: spraying the UC Davis students with “pepper gas.”
When I first read this story, I couldn’t help but assume that “pepper gas” would hurt just like jalapeno pepper, but only a lot more so.
But how much more so?
That answer is given by this fantastic information graphic depicting the Scoville Chile Heat Chart:
 
(SEE: http://blogs.plos.org/speakeasyscience/2011/11/20/about-pepper-spray/)
When you compare the heat of an average Jalapeno pepper (which I can’t eat even half of it without damaging my lips and tongue) with that of “U.S. Grade Pepper Spray”, you’ll realize that the pepper spray is about one thousand (1,000) times more painful than the kitchen variety Mexican pepper.
When you watch the video with that realization, I’m sure you’ll have a different opinion of the whole event.
Here is another article regarding this worrisome development.