Facts about Cyanide

Facts about Cyanide

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What cyanide is

• Cyanide is a rapidly
  acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms.
• Cyanide can be a colorless
  gas, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or cyanogen chloride (CNCl), or a crystal
  form such as sodium cyanide (NaCN) or potassium cyanide (KCN).
• Cyanide gas sometimes
  is described as having a “bitter almond” smell, but it does not always give
  off an odor, and not everyone can detect this odor.
• Cyanide is also known
  by the military designations AN (for hydrogen cyanide) and CK (for cyanogen
  chloride).

Where cyanide is found and how it is used

• Cyanide is naturally
  present in some foods and in certain plants such as cassava. Cyanide is contained
  in cigarette smoke and the combustion products of synthetic materials such
  as plastics. Combustion products are substances given off when things burn.
• In manufacturing, cyanide
  is used to make paper, textiles, and plastics. It is present in the chemicals
  used to develop photographs. Cyanide salts are used in metallurgy for electroplating,
  metal cleaning, and removing gold from its ore. Cyanide gas is used to exterminate
  pests and vermin in ships and buildings.
• If accidentally ingested
  (swallowed), chemicals found in acetonitrile-based products that are used
  to remove artificial nails can produce cyanide.
• Hydrogen cyanide, under
  the name Zyklon B, was used as a genocidal agent by the Germans in World War
  II.
• Reports have indicated
  that during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, hydrogen cyanide gas may have
  been used along with other chemical agents against the inhabitants of the
  Kurdish city of Halabja in northern Iraq.
   

How people can be
exposed to cyanide

• Cyanide enters water,
  soil, or air as a result of both natural processes and industrial activities.
  In air, cyanide is present mainly as gaseous hydrogen cyanide.
• People may be exposed
  to cyanide by breathing air, drinking water, eating food, or touching soil
  that contains cyanide.
• Smoking cigarettes is
  probably one of the major sources of cyanide exposure for people who do not
  work in cyanide-related industries.

How cyanide works

• Poisoning caused by cyanide
  depends on the amount of cyanide a person is exposed to, the route of exposure,
  and the length of time that a person is exposed.
• Breathing cyanide gas
  causes the most harm, but ingesting cyanide can be toxic as well.
• Cyanide gas is most dangerous
  in enclosed places where the gas will be trapped.
• Cyanide gas evaporates
  and disperses quickly in open spaces, making it less harmful outdoors.
• Cyanide gas is less dense
  than air, so it will rise.
• Cyanide prevents the
  cells of the body from getting oxygen. When this happens, the cells die.
• Cyanide is more harmful
  to the heart and brain than other organs because the heart and brain use a
  lot of oxygen.

Immediate signs
and symptoms of cyanide exposure

• People exposed to a small
  amount of cyanide by breathing it, absorbing it through their skin, or eating
  foods that contain it may have some or all of the following symptoms within
  minutes:
  • Rapid breathing
  • Restlessness
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Rapid heart rate
    
• Exposure to a large amount
  of cyanide by any route may cause these other health effects as well:
  • Convulsions
  • Low blood pressure
  • Slow heart rate
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Lung injury
  • Respiratory failure
    leading to death

What the long-term
health effects may be

Survivors of serious cyanide poisoning may develop delayed neurological effects,
most commonly symptoms resembling Parkinson’s disease.
 

How people can
protect themselves and what they should do if they are exposed to cyanide

• First, get fresh air
  by leaving the area where the cyanide was released. Moving to an area with
  fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility of death from exposure to
  cyanide gas.
  • If the cyanide release
    was outside, move away from the area where the cyanide was released.
  • If the cyanide release
    was indoors, get out of the building.
• If leaving the area that
  was exposed to cyanide is not an option, stay as low to the ground as possible.
• Remove any clothing that
  has liquid cyanide on it. If possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag,
  and then seal that bag inside a second plastic bag.
• Rinse the eyes with plain
  water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or vision is blurred.
• Wash any liquid cyanide
  from the skin thoroughly with soap and water.
• If cyanide is known to
  be ingested (swallowed), do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink. Seek
  medical attention right away.
• Stay calm. Dial 911 and
  explain what has happened.
• Wait for emergency personnel
  to arrive.

How cyanide poisoning is treated

Cyanide poisoning is treated
with antidotes and supportive medical care. The most important thing is for
victims to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

How people can get more information about cyanide

People can contact one of
the following:

• Regional poison control
  center (1-800-222-1222)
• Centers for Disease Control
  and Prevention Public Response Hotline (CDC)
  • English (888) 246-2675
  • Español (888) 246-2857
  • TTY (866) 874-2646
    
• Agency for Toxic Substances
  and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1-888-422-8737)
• Centers for Disease Control
  and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  (NIOSH), Pocket
  Guide to Chemical Hazards (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0000.html)