THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE CALLED THE INCIDENT "A
CHEMICAL SUICIDE" OR “DETERGENT-SUICIDE”
JUNE 11, 2015
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS
A 31-year old man who was apparently distraught over a
failing relationship released chemical gases in his apartment on Thursday,
killing himself and sending 11 other people to the hospital, authorities said.
Police in Lowell say officers and paramedics responded in
the late morning to a third-floor apartment after the 31-year-old man made
postings on Facebook that concerned his friends.
Authorities aren't sure what chemicals were used, but early
indications are a mix of hydrogen and sulfur, police Capt. Timothy Crowley
said.
"We believe that the reason he had been making postings
about harming himself was the dissolving of a relationship that he had,"
Crowley said.
Four police officers and three emergency medical workers
were exposed to hazardous materials and were taken to a hospital in unknown
conditions, authorities said. The four officers were being treated for possible
respiratory problems.
Four residents of the house also were taken to the hospital,
but police say it doesn't appear they were exposed to the gases.
Crowley said Thursday afternoon that there did not appear to
be any threat to the public.
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It is considered a fast and painless method to die.
Written by Fuxa, Gary
A trend in the method of committing suicide is continuing to
grow in the United States and it poses a viable threat to first responders.
This method does not involve firearms, knives or medications, but rather common
household products. When mixed together, they can produce one of the most toxic
gases known to man: Hydrogen Sulfide. It is considered a fast and painless method to die.
This method evolved in Japan in the late 2000s and is known
as “chemical suicide” or “detergent suicide.” Since that time and due to this
method, deaths in Japan have been estimated to be in the hundreds by some
officials. It is believed that the first chemical suicides were carried out in
the United States in 2008.
What is Hydrogen Sulfide?
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless gas that is heavier
than air. It is produced in nature by the decomposition of organic materials.
It is also known as sewer gas, sour gas, sulfane, and stink damp. H2S can be
found in sewers, swamps, and in the air around petroleum producing locations.
It can also be produced chemically by mixing certain household chemicals
together. It is water-soluble and, in low concentrations, there is a distinct
odor often described as “rotten eggs.” It is flammable and has a half-life of
37 hours.
One of the most dangerous characteristics of hydrogen
sulfide gas is that a person’s sense of smell can be inhibited after just few
minutes of exposure to low concentrations. Because of this, first responders
may not be aware of its presence or may unknowingly wander farther into higher
concentrations.
Effects of Exposure
Some of the effects of contamination to people can be inflammation
of the respiratory system, difficulty breathing, rapid or slow heart beat,
sweating, delirium, headache, sensitivity to light, blueness of skin due to
depleted oxygen in the blood stream, and drowsiness. Hydrogen sulfide can be
deadly in higher concentrations. The maximum allowable safe concentration
according to OSHA is 20 parts per million (PPM).
Consider some possible effects when exposed to different
levels. At 100 PPM, the loss of smell after a few minutes, respiratory
irritation, drowsiness, and death can occur after 48 hours. At 500-700 PPM, the
loss of consciousness and possible death after 30 minutes. At 1000-2000 PPM,
the immediate loss of consciousness and death. To put things in perspective,
one part per million would be equivalent to one minute in two years, or one
penny in $10,000.
Easy to Make
The method of artificially producing hydrogen sulfide
involves mixing chemicals containing hydrochloric acid with compounds that
contains a sulfur product. When mixed in a small, confined area such as a
closet, very high concentrations of gas can be achieved. Many of these
compounds can be found in easily obtainable household products. Some common
household products containing acid are toilet bowl and disinfectant cleaners,
and some tile and stone cleaning products.
Sulfur containing products can include dandruff shampoos,
some types of paints, spackling, and pesticides/fungicides. Only a few ounces
of each is needed to produce enough gas to fill a small confined area such as a
car interior or small closet with the equivalency of 1,000 PPM of Hydrogen
Sulfide gas in just a few seconds. An important thing to note is that while it
only takes a small amount to produce concentrations high enough to cause death,
mixing large amounts will produce an extremely hazardous and deadly
environment.
Remember the half-life number of 37 hours? Take a confined
atmosphere of say 1,000 PPM, with no environmental interference, after 37
hours, half of the product has decomposed, leaving 500 PPM. After another 37 hours,
again half the product is lost, leaving 250 PPM. The gas can last a very long
time and still be deadly. Colder weather can extend the half-life, prolonging
the lethality even more.
Warning Signs
Most of the suicides take place in a small confined area
such as a vehicle interior or a small closet. In most reported cases thus far,
warning notes and Hazmat placards have been placed on the outside or inside of
doors and on windows which warn those who approach that poisonous gases are
present.
One danger to first responders is that the resulting
chemical reaction can produce by-products such as water (condensation) or a
chemical fog, which can distort or deteriorate the notes left as warnings. The
chemical reaction will often create brightly colored substances (if mixing
containers are present).
Sometimes the doors may be sealed with tape on the inside to
keep the gas from escaping. If notes or placards are placed on the outside,
elements such as wind, rain or snow may destroy them. As a result, first
responders cannot depend on these warning signs, as they can become rendered
unreadable, especially if placed on the inside of the car window.
Anyone who enters a scene without taking proper precautions
can quickly become a victim. How many times has it happened where first
responders are sent to an unresponsive subject in a vehicle? With these types
of suicides in mind, we can’t afford to blindly extract the person out of the
vehicle. Can you imagine opening the door to an environment that is 1,000-2,000
PPM and getting a lung full of hydrogen sulfide gas?
There have been reports of first responders and civilians
overcome and injured due to opening a door to a vehicle where poisonous gases
were present. In one incident, snow had distorted the warning note. In another,
no notes were attached to the vehicle. Remember these types of incidents are
not exclusive to vehicles; they can occur anywhere there is a confined space.
Just a small amount of gas is needed to make an environment deadly.
Fortunately, I could not find any deaths to first responders or civilians due
to these actions.
Use Proper Tactics
There are some hazard signs to look for, though. In most
cases, the products (in their original containers) are mixed while inside the
enclosed environments. Mixing containers can be almost anything, plastic
buckets, pots, water jugs, or even the center or passenger-side glove boxes.
There may be mixing tools such as spoons or sticks. There may be receipts for
the products in plain view.
Upon arriving on the scene, a threat assessment needs to be
done. Is the vehicle occupied? Is the person inside responsive? Are there notes
warning of poisonous gases? Is there a distinct odor of rotten eggs? Is there
condensation on the inside of the vehicle? Are mixing buckets, utensils or
household chemical containers present? If none of these are present, then it is
most likely not a chemical suicide. However, if any of the listed clues are
present, then precautions should be taken.
It would also be advantageous to have communications
personnel trained to recognize the signs of chemical suicides. Dispatchers can
relay valuable information to responding officers. They can also warn callers
not to approach or extract persons who may have attempted chemical suicide.
When dealing with a suspected chemical suicide, responders should utilize Level
1 SCBN gear, as well as have the jurisdiction’s hazardous materials unit
respond.
There may be instances where a large area will need to be
evacuated. This will need to be determined during your assessment. Wind speed
and direction are important factors that must be considered prior to an
evacuation. If confined areas need to be ventilated, it is critical to
determine that no one will be affected by the vapors before doing so. There was
an instance in Japan where an apartment building was evacuated due to the gas
sinking (remember hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air) into other rooms.
Numerous victims were taken to the hospital.
Responders should utilize public address systems to awaken
victims if it is possible that they are sleeping. If no response is noted, then
a thorough reconnaissance should be conducted before entering and assisting the
victim. If the victim appears to be awake, have them come to you. Anyone
exposed to hazardous vapors should be decontaminated with soap and water. First
aid/CPR should be carried out with proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
as gases can be present in the lungs and may be “gassed out” as a result of
first aid efforts.
Contaminated clothing should be bagged. The dangerous gases
can also accumulate in clothing so caution should be used during their
handling. Deceased victims should be confined to sheets or tarps rather than
body bags as again the gases may release from the body and, if in a confined
space, a high level may accumulate. Anyone in close vicinity may be overcome.
Hospitals should also be advised, if victims are transported to their facility,
so that they may take the proper protocols for handling this type of situation.
More Common
Chemical suicides are becoming more commonplace in our
society. It is critical that first responders adapt to this method of suicide
for their own protection. Educate personnel on the dangers of chemical
suicides. Perform a thorough assessment of the scene, look for clues that would
indicate the presence of hazardous materials, use personal protective gear, use
proper techniques when handling exposures, and notify the proper agencies to
dispose of hazardous materials.
Source: http://www.hendonpub.com