Cyanide
Created | Updated Apr 1, 2004
Cyanide is a naturaly occuring substance which contains a carbon-nitrogen tripple bond. Cyanide compounds can be produced naturaly by plants and bacteria and is usualy found in the forms of hydrogen cyanide (a gas smelling faintly of almonds) and potasium/sodium cyanide (colourless solids also smelling of almonds)
Affects on carbon based life forms:
Small amounts of cyanide are needed for the function of the human body, this usaully comes in the form of the vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), however, larger amounts of cyanide can cause convulsions, blackouts, sickness, and in some cases death. This is because the CN ion stops some of the bodies metabolic pathways, and so stopping the body from using oxygen. this means that the cells are unable to function and so die. the heart and brain are the worst affected as they use alot of oxygen, and as these organs are vital, as little as 110ppm (parts per million) is enough to kill a human in 30 mins.
What to do if you are exposed
1.Quickly take off any clothing that may have cyanide on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over your head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head.
2.As quickly as possible, wash any cyanide from your skin with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect you from any chemicals on your body
3.If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes. If you wear contacts, remove them and put them with the contaminated clothing.
4.After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing. If you can't avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren't sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or turn the bag inside out and use it to pick up the clothes, inverting the bag over the clothes when you have all the clothes picked up. An alternative method is to put the clothes in the bag using tongs, tool handles, sticks, or similar objects. Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too.
Yours, Hognogin :-)
