Cyanide prevents the cells of the body from using oxygen. When this happens, the cells die. Cyanide is more harmful to the heart and brain than to other organs because the heart and brain use a lot of oxygen.
Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to cyanide People exposed to a small amount of cyanide by breathing it, absorbing it through their skin, or eating foods that contain it may have some or all of the following signs and symptoms within minutes: Dizziness Headache Nausea and vomiting Rapid breathing Rapid heart rate Restlessness Weakness Exposure to a large amount of cyanide by any route may cause these other health effects as well: Convulsions Loss of consciousness Low blood pressure Lung injury Respiratory failure leading to death Slow heart rate Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to cyanide.
Long-term health effects of exposure to cyanide Survivors of serious cyanide poisoning may develop heart, brain and nerve damage. How you can protect yourself, and what to do if you are exposed to cyanide Since breathing it is likely to be the primary route of exposure to cyanide, leave the area where the cyanide gas was released and get to fresh air.
Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing exposure to cyanide gas. If the cyanide gas was released outdoors, move away from the area where it was released. If you cannot get out of the area where the cyanide gas was released, stay as low to the ground as possible. If the release of cyanide gas was indoors, get out of the building. For more information on evacuation during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Evacuation.
For more information on sheltering in place during a chemical emergency, see Facts About Sheltering in Place. If you think you may have been exposed to cyanide, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as quickly as possible.
Removing your clothing: Quickly take off clothing that may have cyanide on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.
Washing yourself: 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 people from any chemicals on their bodies. 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. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes even if they are not disposable contacts. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with soap and water.
You can put your eyeglasses back on after you wash them. If you are wearing jewelry that you can wash with soap and water, you can wash it and put it back on. If it cannot be washed, it should be put with the contaminated clothing. Disposing of your clothes: After you have washed yourself, place your clothing inside a plastic bag. Explore the interesting world of science with articles, videos and more.
Recognizing and celebrating excellence in chemistry and celebrate your achievements. Diversity in Chemistry Awards Find awards and scholarships advancing diversity in the chemical sciences. Funding to support the advancement of the chemical sciences through research projects. ACS-Hach Programs Learn about financial support for future and current high school chemistry teachers.
Hydrogen cyanide, originally called Prussic acid, is a notorious poisonous gas. It was used by Nazi Germany in extermination camps, and it is used to carry out the death penalty in some US states. In aqueous solution, HCN is called hydrocyanic acid, but its 9. When ingested as sodium or potassium cyanide, the lethal dose is mg. 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.
The central nervous system CNS and cardiovascular systems are chiefly affected. Signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning include the following:. Cardiovascular : decreased inotropy, bradycardia followed by reflex tachycardia, hypotension, and pulmonary edema; and.
Survivors may suffer Parkinson's disease, ataxia, optic atrophy, and other neurological disorders. Cyanide intoxication is largely a clinical diagnosis; however, several laboratory features are suggestive:.
Cyanide blood levels are confirmatory, as results are not obtainable in time for initial diagnosis. There are some reports of use of rapid calorimetric paper test strips to confirm the presence of cyanide. 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.
If cyanide salts have been ingested, activated charcoal may prevent absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. There are 2 major modalities of treatment: the cyanide antidote kit and hydroxocobalamin. Although recovery from a chemical attack is rare, victims may survive sub-lethal exposures, whether from ingestion, smoke inhalation, or exposure to cyanide-containing industrial products, such as carpet.
Patients who are treated successfully for cyanide poisoning should be observed for development of long-term neuropsychiatric symptoms that are similar to symptoms experienced by survivors of cardiac arrest or carbon monoxide poisoning. Who We Are. Clinicians' Biosecurity News. Health Security Headlines. Preparedness Pulsepoints. Outbreak Observatory.
0コメント