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A protester is engulfed in tear gas during a demonstration against rising living costs in Lyon, France, on Oct. 24 (local time). An estimated 800,000 people participated in demonstrations across France that day, according to organizers, while the Interior Ministry put the figure at 410,000. / AP, Yonhap

A series of large-scale protests across France has put pressure on police supplies of riot control equipment.

French local newspaper Ouest-France reported on Oct. 23 (local time) that security authorities in some regions had run out of tear gas canisters and other riot control equipment, prompting emergency deliveries.

The protests began in mid-September when some high school students in France refused to attend classes to demand improvements in educational conditions and other changes. The demonstrations subsequently spread nationwide, with protests against rising living costs joining the movement and fueling continued large-scale unrest.

As some demonstrations turned violent, with incidents of looting and arson, security authorities deployed water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullet launchers, known in France as LBDs, to disperse crowds.

Although authorities have not disclosed the total number of tear gas canisters used during each demonstration, supplies reportedly ran out in some regions, requiring emergency deliveries.

On Oct. 17, a city hall building with a history spanning approximately 140 years was set on fire by some protesters in Limoges, west-central France. Limoges police fired 1,000 tear gas rounds and 410 LBD rounds in response to the protesters before receiving additional ammunition from neighboring regions and the police's central logistics depot.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the chemical toxicity of the tear gas used by security authorities to disperse protesters.

Molecular biologist Dr. Alexandre Samuel warned, "Tear gas is more than a temporary irritant. It can cause second-degree burns to the skin and, if it penetrates deep into the respiratory system, can cause potentially fatal pulmonary edema."

"Tear gas poses risks not only to protesters but also to police officers deployed to demonstrations without gas masks," Samuel said. "Health authorities and specialized research institutions should jointly conduct a large-scale epidemiological study to accurately assess the effects of tear gas on the human body."

Meanwhile, an estimated 410,000 people, according to police, and 800,000, according to the organizing General Confederation of Labour (CGT), participated in weekend demonstrations on Oct. 24, marching through the streets along designated routes.

                                                                                                               Lim Yu-jung