Cyanide

Background

Cyanide is a fast acting and potentially deadly chemical that affects the body's ability to use oxygen.

It comes from natural substances in some foods and in certain plants, including the pits and seeds of some common fruits.

Cyanide is sometimes described as having a "bitter almond" smell. It does not always give off a smell, and not everyone can smell it.

Types

• Gas or liquid
  • Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) - also known as "AC" in the military
  • Cyanogen chloride (CNCI) - also known as "CK" in the military
• Solid (crystal)
  • Sodium cyanide (NaCN)
  • Potassium cyanide (KCN)

Uses of cyanide

• Making paper, textiles and plastics
• Developing photographs
• Metallurgy
  • Includes electroplating, metal cleaning and removing gold from its ore
• Killing pests and vermin

Signs and symptoms

Breathing in cyanide gas causes symptoms to show up the fastest, but swallowing solid or liquid cyanide can be dangerous too.

These symptoms can happen during or right after someone is exposed:

• Chest pain and/or chest tightness
• Dizziness, weakness, and/or confusion
• Eye pain and/or eye tearing
• Excitement
• Restlessness
• Breathing problems, such as shortness of breath or wheezing
• Rapid or slow breathing
• Rapid or slow heart rate
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting

If exposed to large amounts, signs and symptoms include:

• Coma
• Death
• High or low blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Lung injury
• Seizures

These symptoms can happen very quickly when exposed to a large amount of cyanide. These symptoms can happen with any type of exposure (breathing in, skin or eye contact, or swallowing).

Exposure

Water

If cyanide is in the water, people can be exposed by touching or drinking the water.

Air

If cyanide is in the air, people can be exposed through skin or eye contact, or breathing in the cyanide gas. If solid cyanide is put into water, it can make hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN or AC). This can increase chances of breathing in the gas.

Cyanide gas is most dangerous in enclosed places where gas will be trapped. Cyanide gas can spread quickly in open spaces depending on the weather. less harmful outdoors.

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN or AC) gas is lighter than air, so the gas will rise. Cyanogen Chloride (CNCl or CK) is heavier and will sink to lower areas and increase the risk of exposure there.

Cyanide in food

Eating, drinking, or touching food or drink with cyanide can expose people to cyanide. This is more likely to happen with solid cyanide.

Do not use or eat food that smells, tastes, or looks unusual.

Do not eat food that may have touched liquid cyanide if the food is not in a glass or metal container. If the food is in an unbroken sealed glass or metal container, it should not be affected by an cyanide release. Wash the outside of the container before using.

Follow any directions by local authorities.

What to do if you are exposed

Get away

Get away from the area where the cyanide was released and breathe fresh air.

If the cyanide release was outdoors, go indoors and shelter in place. Make sure windows are closed and ventilation systems are turned off to make sure the cyanide does not come inside. If you cannot go indoors, leave the area where the cyanide was released.

If the cyanide release was indoors, get out of the building.

Get clean

Get clean by taking off all clothes, jewelry, and accessories, blotting any liquid, and showering. Showering is the best method for removing cyanide from your body. If you cannot take off all layers, take off as many clothes as you can.

Take your clothes off

Do not pull clothing over your head. If you must pull clothing over your head, close your eyes and mouth, and hold your breath. This will prevent the cyanide from getting in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Put clothes in a plastic bag.

If you wear contact lenses, take them out and place them with your clothing. Do not put contact lenses back in.

If you were exposed to solid cyanide, skip this step and wash your body as described in the next section.

If you were exposed to any form except solid cyanide, follow these steps to blot your body:

1. Use dry, clean cloths, or paper towels to blot each part of your body where you feel liquid.
2. Use a different cloth or towel for each body part.
3. Start blotting with your head and hair.
4. Then blot your face, hands, body, arms, legs, and feet.
5. Blot your skin for 10 seconds
6. Rub for 10 seconds any places on your skin or in your hair where you can see or feel liquid.
7. Drop the used cloths or towels to the floor.

Repeat the process several times if you still feel liquid on you. Use a different clean cloth or towel for each part of your body. Use a different clean cloth or towel each time you repeat the process.

Wash your body

Wash your hair, face, and hands, and then wash the rest of your body. Wash from your head to your feet with lots of lukewarm water and mild soap (if available) for 90 seconds.

Use soapy water for a minute, then rinse with plain water for 30 seconds. Try not to let the water run into your eyes, nose, or mouth. Do not scrub!

If your eyes are burning or you can't see normally, wash your eyes for 10–15 minutes with lukewarm water. Do not use eye drops.

Dry your face, then tilt your head back and dry your hair, and then dry down your body. Use anything that will soak up water. Drop used things to the floor. Dress in any available clean clothes to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature). This is especially important if temperatures are cool.

Clear the dirty items

If emergency response services are available, leave used items on the floor and report where they are to emergency teams. Move as far from the used items as possible.

Otherwise, put on waterproof or heavy gloves that won't let liquid go through. Gather all used things from the floor, including your clothes, and put them in a plastic bag. Remove gloves and put them in the plastic bag. Close the plastic bag and place it in a second plastic bag. Close up the second bag also.

Do not put the bags in the regular trash! Place the bags in an area where other people are unlikely to disturb them and touch cyanide. Inform local authorities of the location of the bags for pick up.

Get help

To get help right away:

• Call 911.
• Go to the hospital if local officials say it is safe to leave.
• Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Treatment

The most important thing is for people to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

If someone has swallowed cyanide, do not force vomiting.

Cyanide poisoning is treated with specific antidotes (treatment to reduce the effects of poison). Antidotes for cyanide poisoning are most useful if given as soon as possible after exposure.

It is also treated with supportive medical care in a hospital or by trained emergency personnel.

Long-term health effects

Survivors of large amounts of cyanide exposure may develop heart, brain, and nerve damage.