What is Cyanide? What are the harms of cyanide?

It is a type of component that belongs to the group of chemical compounds and is known as a very dangerous substance. Cyanide, whose chemical formula is shown as CN, is used especially in industrial processes and some agricultural applications. It requires great attention due to its harmful effects on human health. This compound can cause serious health problems if inhaled, swallowed, or in contact with skin. The dangers of cyanide impair the oxygen carrying capacity in the body by inhibiting the process of cellular respiration. This can cause rapid damage to cells and organs.

What is Cyanide?

Cyanide is a rapidly acting and potentially fatal chemical that affects the body’s ability to use oxygen. It occurs naturally in some foods and plants. These include the seeds and peels of some common fruits. Cyanide in production; It is used in making paper, textile and plastic. It is found in chemicals used to develop photographs. It is also used in metallurgy for electroplating, metal cleaning and gold extraction from ores. In addition, cyanide gas is used to destroy pests and insects in ships and buildings. Inhaling this gas causes symptoms to appear quickly. However, swallowing solid or liquid cyanide is also toxic. Eating, drinking, or touching food or beverages contaminated with cyanide can expose people to cyanide. Contamination of food or beverages is more likely with solid forms.

What are the harms of cyanide?

After exposure, cyanide rapidly enters the bloodstream. The body processes small amounts of cyanide differently than large amounts. Small doses of cyanide can be converted to thiocyanate, which is less harmful and is excreted in the urine. It can also combine with another chemical to create vitamin B12, which helps maintain healthy nerves and red blood cells. In large doses, the body’s ability to convert cyanide into thiocyanate is suppressed. Prevents cells from using oxygen cyanide harms is the most important among them. Eventually, these cells die. The heart, respiratory system, and central nervous system are most susceptible to cyanide poisoning.

What is Cyanide Poisoning?

Cyanide is a mitochondrial toxin that is one of the fastest known poisons. This toxin works by preventing the body from using vital oxygen. Used as a method of execution in ancient times, cyanide causes death within minutes to hours of exposure. Important cyanide poisoning Although rare, it must be recognized quickly to enable prompt administration of a life-saving antidote and supportive treatment.

The chemical cyanide, which contains carbon-nitrogen (CN) bonds, can be found in some surprising places. For example, it is found in many safe plants, including almonds, lima beans, soy, and spinach. It is a byproduct of metabolism in the human body. It is exhaled in small amounts with each breath. The lethal forms of this chemical are as follows:

• Sodium Cyanide (NaCN)
• Potassium Cyanide (KCN)
• Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
• Cyanogen Chloride (CNCl)

These forms can appear as solids, liquids or gases. There is a possibility of encountering one of these forms in situations such as fire.

How Does Cyanide Poisoning Happen?

Cyanide poisoning can occur due to reasons such as inhalation of smoke from fires, industries that use cyanide such as photography, chemical research, synthetic plastics, metal processing and electroplating, and cyanide-containing plants such as apple seeds. Signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning can be difficult to detect. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning It can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• General weakness
• confusion, confusion
• strange behavior
• excessive sleepiness
• To come
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• dizziness
• Vomiting
• Stomach ache
• seizures

Additionally, the skin may be unusually pink or cherry red. Breathing may be rapid and the heartbeat may be slow or fast. Acute ingestion of cyanide has a rapid onset. This condition immediately affects the heart and causes sudden collapse, seizure or coma. Chronic poisoning from ingestion or the environment has a more gradual onset.

What are the symptoms of cyanide poisoning?

Poisoning can be difficult to detect. The effects of swallowing cyanide are very similar to the effects of drowning. The mechanism of toxicity occurs because cyanide prevents the body’s cells from using oxygen. This is something all cells need to survive. Symptoms of toxic cyanide exposure may appear within seconds to minutes after exposure. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning can be listed as follows:

• general weakness
• Nausea
• confusion
• Headache
• difficulty breathing
• Watch
• loss of consciousness
• cardiac arrest

The severity of cyanide poisoning varies depending on factors such as dose, type of cyanide, and duration of exposure.

What Causes Cyanide Poisoning?

There are two different ways to be exposed to cyanide. Acute cyanide poisoning has immediate and often life-threatening effects. Chronic cyanide poisoning results from exposure to smaller amounts over time.

Acute Cyanide Poisoning

Acute cyanide poisoning is relatively rare. The majority of cases seen are due to unintentional exposure. When it occurs, symptoms are sudden and severe. Acute cyanide poisoning manifests itself with symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizure, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest.

Chronic cyanide poisoning

Chronic cyanide poisoning can occur when exposed to hydrogen cyanide gas for a significant period of time. Symptoms are usually gradual. As time passes, the severity of symptoms increases. Early symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Numbness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• dizziness

Additional symptoms may include:

• dilated pupils
• Slow and shallow breathing
• Weaker or faster pulse
• contractions

If the condition is not diagnosed and treated, slow, irregular heart rate, decreased body temperature, blue lips, coma, and death may occur. If you are experiencing symptoms of acute cyanide poisoning, you should seek emergency medical attention immediately. If you experience symptoms of chronic cyanide poisoning, you should see your doctor immediately. The doctor may order a test to measure the methemoglobin level. Methemoglobin is measured when there is concern for injury due to smoke inhalation. Blood carbon monoxide concentration (carboxyhemoglobin level) can also be measured. The concentration of carbon monoxide in your blood can be an indicator of how much smoke is being inhaled. Additionally, plasma or blood lactate levels are checked.

How is Cyanide Poisoning Treated?

If you have swallowed cyanide, you may be given activated charcoal to help absorb the toxin and safely clear it from your body. Cyanide exposure may affect oxygen uptake. Therefore, your doctor may administer 100 percent oxygen through a mask or endotracheal tube. In severe cases cyanide poisoning treatment Doctors may administer one of the following two antidotes:

• Cyanide antidote kit
• Hydroxocobalamin (Cyanokit)

If the exposed patient is completely unconscious, various invasive measures may need to be applied to the patient for close monitoring and evaluation. Unless the patient’s condition is serious, he will need a comprehensive examination. The patient’s clothes are usually removed. Because cyanide remaining on clothes can continue to poison both the patient and the caregivers. However, you should remember that cyanide poisoning cannot be treated at home.