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Cyanide is a dangerous poison. It is associated with spy movies and crime novels. It turns out, however, that cyanide can be found in our daily lives. Few people know that cyanide can even be purchased online. How Do You Know Cyanide Poisoning? How to prevent poisoning?
Cyanide is very poisonous. Poisoning is rare, but very violent and most often fatal. A person poisoned with cyanide dies shortly after the poison enters the body. Usually, she is not given any medical help. Only quick administration of the antidote can help. The lethal dose of cyanide is 150-500 mg.
Cyanide – causes of poisoning
The main cause of cyanide poisoning is tube cyanide. It is responsible for the majority of deaths during fires, although carbon monoxide has been assumed to be responsible for poisoning during fires.
Hydrogen cyanide is produced during the combustion of various materials containing carbon and nitrogen, as well as e.g. paper or various materials. So they are materials that can be found in every home or building.
Moreover, cyanide is widely used in industry. It is used in the production of nylon, poly chloride, vinyl, polyurethane foam, polyester, neoprene foam, rubber, etc.
Cyanide has also found application in electroforming. It is used there for cleaning and hardening metals. It is also used in the pharmaceutical and photographic industries.
Cyanide – availability
Cyanide is a powerful poison and can be a huge threat in the wrong hands. It turns out, however, that you can get it legally in Poland.
In Polish law, from 1967, there was a provision that only people with a special permit could possess cyanide, and from 2002 the sale of cyanide to private individuals was prohibited.
However, these provisions had to be changed in 2010 because they were questioned by the European Commission. The Community legislation does not impose any restrictions on the sale of cyanide.
Cyanide – action
Cyanide is poisonous because it combines with the trivalent iron of cytochrome oxidase, a key enzyme in the respiratory chain. This causes intracellular respiration to be blocked and the synthesis of lactic acid increases.
Cells are under-oxygenated and die. Cyanide stops the activity of numerous enzymes, causing further disturbances in cell metabolism.
Fortunately, the effects of cyanide can be reversed. The most important thing, however, is time. The sooner the antidote is administered, the greater the chance of reversing even severe poisoning.
Cyanide – the course of poisoning
Cyanide poisoning can be light, severe and electrifying. Its course depends on the amount of poison with which it has come into contact.
In case of slight poisoning, lightheadedness, dizziness, confusion and slight shortness of breath appear.
In severe cases of cyanide poisoning, pain, dizziness, confusion, convulsions, respiratory distress, and unconsciousness occur rapidly.
Lightning poisoning with cyanide leads to sudden unconsciousness and convulsions. Death occurs within minutes. It should be remembered that during cyanide poisoning the skin does not turn blue, despite cardiovascular and respiratory failure.
Cyanide – symptoms of poisoning
Cyanide poisoning occurs through ingestion of poison, inhalation of vapors, or through skin contact. The reaction to cyanide depends on the dose, stomach pH, and the person’s sensitivity to the poison. In case of inhalation poisoning, the following appear:
- headaches,
- noise and shortness of breath,
- tightness of the chest,
- vomiting,
- heart rate disturbance,
- lowering blood pressure,
- coma.
Cyanide – sources
Cyanide poisoning is unlikely. It can happen:
- during a fire in a closed room,
- while the polyurethane foam is burning,
- in fire injured with soot in the nose or mouth,
- in people with impaired consciousness, with neurological symptoms, diagnosed with hypotension.
Cyanide – treatment
Treatment of cyanide poisoning is to administer the antidote as soon as possible. A person suspected of poisoning should not be resuscitated using the mouth-to-mouth method, as this may result in poisoning. You should call an ambulance quickly and inform about suspected poisoning. The major antidote to cyanide is hydrosocobalamin. It removes cyanide from connections with chromium oxidase.
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