Detergent Suicide Presented by City of Raleigh Fire

“Detergent Suicide” Presented by City of Raleigh Fire Department Hazmat Team

What is “Detergent Suicide? ” n n Name comes from the type of “ingredients” used Mixture of toilet bowl cleaner and an organic phosphate – insecticide, fungicide n n Sometimes Muriatic or Sulfuric Acid is substituted for cleaner Originated in Japan – slowly proliferating all over the world

What happens? n Mixing the aforementioned chemicals together produces a deadly gas: Hydrogen Sulfide

What is Hydrogen Sulfide? n Toxic, colorless gas n Smells like rotten eggs n Extremely flammable

Properties IDLH: 100 ppm Flammable Range: 4% to 46% Ignition temp approx. 5000 F Vapor Density: 1. 2 (Heavier than air) Vapor Pressure @ 680 F is 17. 6 atm n It will dissipate quickly outside

Toxic Levels of Concern n Odor Threshold: n Olfactory Fatigue begins at about 20 ppm n Ten minute AEGL-2: 41 ppm n . 001 to 0. 13 ppm Irreversible, serious, long-lasting effects or impaired ability to escape.

Signs and Symptoms n Target Organs: Eyes, Respiratory Tract, Central Nervous System n Symptoms: n n n Eye, mucous membrane and skin irritation Memory loss, confusion, headache, dizziness Shortness of breath, cough, tightness in the chest, pulmonary edema Difficulty breathing/swallowing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Tremors, convulsions, coma

Basic Life Support n n Remove victim from exposure Decontaminate Brush solids from clothing (if any) n Remove clothing – contain for disposal. n Flush victim with copious amounts of water using mild detergent – minimum 15 minutes n Flush eyes with lukewarm water – minimum 15 minutes n

Basic Life Support, cont’d… n Administer Oxygen, 10 -12 LPM via NRB Transport immediately to Hospital n Advanced Life Support… n n Refer to local protocol

Basic Life Support, cont’d… n n NOTE: Performing these BLS and decontamination functions should be performed wearing appropriate PPE This includes; n n Level C PPE – Chemical splash suit, nitrile gloves, chemical boots, appropriate respirator Use SCBA if victim’s area concentrations were greater than 100 ppm

Scene size-up n n n Some scenes will be obvious… Well marked with warnings Obvious chemicals in the vehicle/structure

Scene size-up cont’d… n Others may not…

Things to consider n n n Overall scene safety Does the scene appear to be unusual in any way? Signage, odors, victims? Inside or outside? The gas - if present – will persist much longer in an enclosed space Any indicators that chemicals are present? Victim slumped over steering wheel? Bystanders showing signs and symptoms of H 2 S?

Things to consider, cont’d… n n A yes to any one of the previous items would be cause for concern Call Hazmat DO NOT make entry into the vehicle or building/room. Keep all ignition sources away from area

Things to consider, cont’d… n n Monitoring for H 2 S with a monitor calibrated with a gas other than H 2 S will require the use of a correction factor Rae Systems correction factors for their Multi. Rae PID’s are as follows (if calibrated with 100 ppm isobutylene): For 10. 6 e. V – 3. 3 n For 11. 7 e. V – 1. 5 n

Items for the future n n We have been lucky so far – incidents have been outside and marked with warning signs In Japan, this occurs in apartment buildings – many others become involved Meth labs could be “booby-trapped” with this type of device Hostage situations may involve this – firing a “flash-bang” grenade into this type of environment would be very explosive

Recent Occurrences n n n Yet another detergent suicide forced residents of an apartment building to evacuate on June 4, 2008. 34 residents were evacuated and one woman was taken to the hospital. The suicide victim was in his late 20 s. On May 1, 2008, 350 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Otaru, northern Japan - a man used this technique to kill himself. On April 23, 2008, in Konan, Japan, a 14 -year-old girl killed herself by mixing laundry detergent with a liquid cleanser. The gas seeped out a window and into neighboring apartments, sickening 90 people and causing 10 to be admitted to the hospital.

Demonstration n n The video shows the reaction of 8 fl. oz. of Muriatic Acid mixed with 8 fl. oz. of Sulfur Lime. Enclosed in a compact car. A time line of the video is shown on the next slide

Time Line of Video n n n n Chemicals mixed at time (t)=o seconds (s) Vehicle door closed at t= 3 s Meter alarms at t = 14 s Initial meter spike at t = 17 s Levels drop initially, then begin to rise as vehicle fills with gas Meter level shows 171 ppm at t = 1 minute Meter reading maintained approx. 171 ppm until vehicle doors opened