““DetergentDetergent SuicideSuicide””

Presented byPresented by

City of Raleigh Fire City of Raleigh Fire DepartmentDepartment

Hazmat TeamHazmat Team

What is “Detergent What is “Detergent Suicide?”Suicide?”

Name comes from the type Name comes from the type of “ingredients” usedof “ingredients” used

Mixture of toilet bowl Mixture of toilet bowl cleaner and an organic cleaner and an organic phosphate – insecticide, phosphate – insecticide, fungicidefungicide Sometimes Muriatic or Sometimes Muriatic or

Sulfuric Acid is substituted Sulfuric Acid is substituted for cleanerfor cleaner

Originated in Japan – Originated in Japan – slowly proliferating all over slowly proliferating all over the worldthe world

What happens?What happens?

Mixing the aforementioned chemicals Mixing the aforementioned chemicals together produces a deadly gas:together produces a deadly gas:

Hydrogen SulfideHydrogen Sulfide

What is Hydrogen Sulfide?What is Hydrogen Sulfide?

Toxic, colorless gasToxic, colorless gas

Smells like rotten eggsSmells like rotten eggs

Extremely flammableExtremely flammable

PropertiesProperties

IDLH:IDLH: 100 ppm100 ppm

Flammable Range: 4% to 46%Flammable Range: 4% to 46%Ignition temp approx. 500Ignition temp approx. 50000FF

Vapor Density:Vapor Density: 1.2 (Heavier than air)1.2 (Heavier than air)

Vapor Pressure @ 68Vapor Pressure @ 6800F is 17.6 atmF is 17.6 atm It will dissipate quickly outsideIt will dissipate quickly outside

Toxic Levels of ConcernToxic Levels of Concern

Odor Threshold:Odor Threshold: .001 to 0.13 ppm.001 to 0.13 ppm

Olfactory Fatigue begins at about 20 ppmOlfactory Fatigue begins at about 20 ppm

Ten minute AEGL-2:Ten minute AEGL-2: 41 ppm41 ppm Irreversible, serious, long-lasting effects or Irreversible, serious, long-lasting effects or

impaired ability to escape.impaired ability to escape.

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

Target Organs:Target Organs: Eyes, Respiratory Tract, Eyes, Respiratory Tract, Central Nervous SystemCentral Nervous System

Symptoms:Symptoms: Eye, mucous membrane and skin irritationEye, mucous membrane and skin irritation Memory loss, confusion, headache, dizzinessMemory loss, confusion, headache, dizziness Shortness of breath, cough, tightness in the Shortness of breath, cough, tightness in the

chest, pulmonary edemachest, pulmonary edema Difficulty breathing/swallowing, abdominal Difficulty breathing/swallowing, abdominal

pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrheapain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Tremors, convulsions, comaTremors, convulsions, coma

Basic Life SupportBasic Life Support

Remove victim from exposureRemove victim from exposure DecontaminateDecontaminate

Brush solids from clothing (if any)Brush solids from clothing (if any) Remove clothing – contain for disposal.Remove clothing – contain for disposal. Flush victim with copious amounts of water Flush victim with copious amounts of water

using mild detergent – minimum 15 using mild detergent – minimum 15 minutesminutes

Flush eyes with lukewarm water – Flush eyes with lukewarm water – minimum 15 minutesminimum 15 minutes

Basic Life Support, cont’d…Basic Life Support, cont’d…

Administer Oxygen, 10-12 LPM via Administer Oxygen, 10-12 LPM via NRBNRB

Transport immediately to HospitalTransport immediately to Hospital

Advanced Life Support…Advanced Life Support… Refer to local protocolRefer to local protocol

Basic Life Support, cont’d…Basic Life Support, cont’d…

NOTE: Performing these BLS and NOTE: Performing these BLS and decontamination functions should be decontamination functions should be performed wearing appropriate PPEperformed wearing appropriate PPE

This includes;This includes; Level C PPE – Chemical splash suit, nitrile Level C PPE – Chemical splash suit, nitrile

gloves, chemical boots, appropriate respiratorgloves, chemical boots, appropriate respirator Use SCBA if victim’s area concentrations were Use SCBA if victim’s area concentrations were

greater than 100 ppmgreater than 100 ppm

Scene size-upScene size-up

Some scenes Some scenes will be obvious…will be obvious…

Well marked with Well marked with warningswarnings

Obvious chemicals in Obvious chemicals in the vehicle/structurethe vehicle/structure

Scene size-up cont’d…Scene size-up cont’d…

Others may not…Others may not…

Things to considerThings to consider

Overall scene safetyOverall scene safety Does the scene appear to be unusual in any Does the scene appear to be unusual in any

way? Signage, odors, victims?way? Signage, odors, victims? Inside or outside? The gas - if present – will Inside or outside? The gas - if present – will

persist much longer in an enclosed spacepersist much longer in an enclosed space Any indicators that chemicals are present?Any indicators that chemicals are present? Victim slumped over steering wheel?Victim slumped over steering wheel? Bystanders showing signs and symptoms of Bystanders showing signs and symptoms of

HH22S?S?

Things to consider, cont’d…Things to consider, cont’d…

A yes to any one of the previous A yes to any one of the previous items would be cause for concernitems would be cause for concern

Call HazmatCall Hazmat DO NOT make entry into the vehicle DO NOT make entry into the vehicle

or building/room.or building/room. Keep all ignition sources away from Keep all ignition sources away from

areaarea

Things to consider, cont’d…Things to consider, cont’d…

Monitoring for HMonitoring for H22S with a monitor S with a monitor calibrated with a gas other than Hcalibrated with a gas other than H22S S will require the use of a correction will require the use of a correction factorfactor

Rae Systems correction factors for Rae Systems correction factors for their MultiRae PID’s are as follows (if their MultiRae PID’s are as follows (if calibrated with 100ppm isobutylene):calibrated with 100ppm isobutylene): For 10.6 eV – 3.3For 10.6 eV – 3.3 For 11.7 eV – 1.5For 11.7 eV – 1.5

Items for the futureItems for the future

We have been lucky so far – incidents We have been lucky so far – incidents have been outside and marked with have been outside and marked with warning signswarning signs

In Japan, this occurs in apartment In Japan, this occurs in apartment buildings – many others become involvedbuildings – many others become involved

Meth labs could be “booby-trapped” with Meth labs could be “booby-trapped” with this type of devicethis type of device

Hostage situations may involve this – firing Hostage situations may involve this – firing a “flash-bang” grenade into this type of a “flash-bang” grenade into this type of environment would be very explosiveenvironment would be very explosive

Recent OccurrencesRecent Occurrences

Yet another detergent suicide forced residents of an Yet another detergent suicide forced residents of an apartment building to evacuate on June 4, 2008. 34 apartment building to evacuate on June 4, 2008. 34 residents were evacuated and one woman was taken to the residents were evacuated and one woman was taken to the hospital. The suicide victim was in his late 20s.hospital. The suicide victim was in his late 20s.

On May 1, 2008, 350 people had to be evacuated from their On May 1, 2008, 350 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Otaru, northern Japan - a man used this technique homes in Otaru, northern Japan - a man used this technique to kill himself.to kill himself.

On April 23, 2008, in Konan, Japan, a 14-year-old girl killed On April 23, 2008, in Konan, Japan, a 14-year-old girl killed herself by mixing laundry detergent with a liquid cleanser. herself by mixing laundry detergent with a liquid cleanser. The gas seeped out a window and into neighboring The gas seeped out a window and into neighboring apartments, sickening 90 people and causing 10 to be apartments, sickening 90 people and causing 10 to be admitted to the hospital.admitted to the hospital.

DemonstrationDemonstration

The video shows the The video shows the reaction of 8 fl. oz. of reaction of 8 fl. oz. of Muriatic Acid mixed Muriatic Acid mixed with 8 fl. oz. of Sulfur with 8 fl. oz. of Sulfur Lime. Enclosed in a Lime. Enclosed in a compact car.compact car.

A time line of the video A time line of the video is shown on the next is shown on the next slideslide

Time Line of VideoTime Line of Video

Chemicals mixed at time (t)=o seconds (s)Chemicals mixed at time (t)=o seconds (s) Vehicle door closed at t= 3 sVehicle door closed at t= 3 s Meter alarms at t = 14 sMeter alarms at t = 14 s Initial meter spike at t = 17 sInitial meter spike at t = 17 s Levels drop initially, then begin to rise as Levels drop initially, then begin to rise as

vehicle fills with gasvehicle fills with gas Meter level shows 171 ppm at t = 1 minuteMeter level shows 171 ppm at t = 1 minute Meter reading maintained approx. 171 ppm Meter reading maintained approx. 171 ppm

until vehicle doors openeduntil vehicle doors opened