Charcoal-burning suicide

Charcoal-burning suicide is committing suicide by burning charcoal in a closed room.

Mechanism of action

As the charcoal burns, the concentration of carbon monoxide gradually increases. Because of its toxicity (and not the exhaustion of oxygen as sometimes thought) CO concentrations of as little as one-tenth of one percent of the air in a confined space are fatal if inhaled over an extended period.^[1] The incomplete combustion of carbon produces carbon monoxide, which binds strongly to hemoglobin, rapidly decreasing the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to the body. This results in death due to hypoxia brought about by carbon monoxide poisoning.

The method is described as "easy and painless" compared to other suicide methods.^[2] Unlike jumping from a high-rise building or cutting with a knife, the suicidal person does not have to endure more pain. Many who attempt suicide by charcoal burning use alcohol or hypnotic drugs during the attempt, and survivors report that they felt no discomfort.^[2]

Some have challenged the description of the method as painless, noting that the lack of oxygen can cause choking.^[3] However, this is based on a misunderstanding of the mechanism of action: it is the cumulative serum concentration of CO, not the depletion of oxygen, that causes death. A survivor of this method usually needs intensive care. They may have permanent brain damage.

History

As a method of suicide it is mentioned by Eugène Sue in The Wandering Jew (1844) so it's likely that it's been known as a means of suicide since charcoal use began historically.^[4]

In November 1998, a middle-aged woman in Hong Kong committed suicide using this method inside her small, sealed bedroom. As this method is not listed in Tsurumi's Complete Manual of Suicide from 1993, she may have invented it herself; she had a chemical engineering background.^[5]

Meanwhile, Hong Kong was suffering from an economic depression at the time, and suicide in general was increasing. After the details of this suicide were highly publicised by local mass media, many others attempted and succeeded in committing suicide in this way. Within two months, charcoal-burning had become the third major suicide killer in Hong Kong.^[6] Charcoal-burning suicide accounted for 1.7% of Hong Kong suicides in 1998 and 10.1% in 1999.^[7] By 2001, it had surpassed hanging as the second most-common method of suicide in Hong Kong (second only to jumping), accounting for about 25% of all suicide deaths.^[6] The method has since spread to mainland China, Taiwan and Japan.^{[citation needed]}

In order to prevent charcoal burning, the Hong Kong Government replaced the traditional countryside charcoal barbecue with an electric grill. Some non-government organizations worked with charcoal retailers to promote the message of "treasure your life" by putting "seek help" labels on the charcoal bags.

On March 9, 2007, Brad Delp, the lead singer of the American rock band Boston, committed suicide using this method.

References