This is depressing: police are being warned that "detergent suicides" can be hazardous to their health as well. According to the Daily News, an internal order says many people who decide to kill themselves in this manner are often courteous enough to post warning signs so anyone entering knows to watch out for deadly fumes. But the NYPD's Weapons of Mass Destruction Team allegedly determined the technique could be used to intentionally kill officers in confined spaces, such as elevators or subway cars. The mixture of household cleaners and detergents creates hydrogen sulfide, a colorless, flammable, poisonous gas which often smells of rotten eggs. more ›

Yesterday, three men working at a Queens recycling plant died when they were trapped in a sewage hole that was full of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. The NY Times reports the men, including a father and son, were "overcome by toxic fumes Monday afternoon and died, apparently falling one after another into the Stygian gloom of a putrid, manhole-size, 18-foot-deep well they were trying to vacuum." more ›

Three workers at a private recycling facility in Jamaica, Queens died while trapped in a sewage hole earlier this afternoon. According to NY1, "The men were subcontractors pumping three to four feet of water out of the hole, which was about 18-feet deep. One worker fell into the hole and the two others fell in while trying to help him." And CityRoom reports that two of the workers were a father and a son. The hole was full of hydrogen sulfide and fire officials said there was twice the lethal amount of the colorless gas, which the CDC says "can also result from bacterial breakdown of organic matter. It is also produced by human and animal wastes." Queens Borough Commander John Sudnik said, "It's toxic. At 50 parts per million, it's lethal in 10 minutes." Initially, the FDNY had called Con Ed to bring vacuum trucks, which helps suck debris from manholes, to Regal Recycling Co. but then cancelled the request because the victims were dead. more ›