How much cyanide will kill a human

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Year Background Cyanide is a naturally occurring chemical, found in many plants, that has been used in conventional warfare and poisoning for 2 millennia. In , the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo placed cyanide in subway bathrooms. Mechanism of Action and Toxicokinetics Cyanide poisons the mitochondrial electron transport chain within cells and renders the body unable to derive energy adenosine triphosphate-ATP from oxygen.

Signs and Symptoms Cyanide kills quickly: death occurs within seconds of a lethal dose of cyanide gas and within minutes of ingestion of a lethal dose of cyanide salt. Signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning include the following: CNS : headache, anxiety, agitation, confusion, lethargy, seizures, and coma; Cardiovascular : decreased inotropy, bradycardia followed by reflex tachycardia, hypotension, and pulmonary edema; and Other : acute lung injury, nausea and vomiting, cherry-red skin color.

Countermeasures Before cyanide antidote can be administered, the patient must be removed from the cyanide-laden area, clothing removed, and skin washed with soap and water. Cyanide Antidote Kit : This 3-component process comprising amyl nitrite, sodium nitrate, and sodium thiosulfate releases cyanide from cytochrome a3 by providing a target for which cyanide has a higher attraction.

Amyl nitrite, contained in pearls that must be broken and inhaled, and IV sodium nitrate cause the formation of methemoglobin, for which cyanide has a high binding affinity.

Sodium thiosulfate provides a source of sulfur that the enzyme rhodanese-the major pathway for metabolism of cyanide-utilizes to detoxify cyanide. Hydroxocobalamin Cyanokit : In addition to methemoglobin, cyanide also has a strong binding affinity to cobalt.

Hydroxocobalamin, which contains cobalt, becomes cyanocobalamin vitamin B12 after binding to cyanide. It is then excreted in the urine. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Emergency Preparedness and Response. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Facts About Cyanide. Minus Related Pages. What cyanide is Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms. Cyanide is also known by the military designations AC for hydrogen cyanide and CK for cyanogen chloride.

Where cyanide is found and how it is used Cyanide is released from natural substances in some foods and in certain plants such as cassava, lima beans and almonds. Pits and seeds of common fruits, such as apricots, apples, and peaches, may have substantial amounts of chemicals which are metabolized to cyanide. The edible parts of these plants contain much lower amounts of these chemicals. 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 swallowed, chemicals found in acetonitrile-based products that are used to remove artificial nails can produce cyanide when metabolized by the body. Reports have indicated that during the Iran-Iraq War in the s, 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 you could be exposed to cyanide You could be exposed to cyanide by breathing air, drinking water, eating food, or touching soil that contains cyanide.

Cyanide enters water, soil, or air as a result of both natural processes and industrial activities. When present in air, it is usually in the form of gaseous hydrogen 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 The extent of 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 swallowing cyanide can be toxic as well.

Cyanide gas is most dangerous in enclosed places where the gas will be trapped.