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Skip Navigation. Publications Our publications keep professionals working across the public, private, and academic sectors informed on the most important developments and issues in health security and biosecurity. Find an article or report by keywords: Enter Search Phrase. Find an article or report or see all by area, author, or year:. 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. Inhaling a high dose of cyanide gas rapidly causes unconsciousness and often death. Lower doses may be survivable, especially if immediate aid is provided.
The symptoms of cyanide poisoning are similar to those displayed by other conditions or exposure to any of a number of chemicals, so don't assume cyanide is the cause. Death from poisoning usually results from respiratory or heart failure. Also, skin and body fluids may give off an odor of almonds. How much cyanide is too much depends on the route of exposure, the dose, and duration of exposure?
Inhaled cyanide presents a greater risk than ingested cyanide. Skin contact is not as much of a concern unless the cyanide has been mixed with DMSO , except touching the compound could lead to accidentally swallowing some of it. Unconsciousness, followed by death, could occur within several seconds of inhaling a high dose of cyanide, but lower doses and ingested cyanide may allow a few hours to a couple of days for treatment.
Emergency medical attention is critical. Because it's a relatively common toxin in the environment, the body can detoxify a small amount of cyanide. For example, you can eat the seeds of an apple or withstand cyanide from cigarette smoke without dying. When cyanide is used as a poison or a chemical weapon, treatment depends on the dose.
A high dose of inhaled cyanide is lethal too quickly for any treatment to take effect. Initial first aid for inhaled cyanide requires getting the victim to fresh air.
Ingested cyanide or lower doses of inhaled cyanide may be countered by administering antidotes that detoxify cyanide or bind to it. For example, natural vitamin B12, hydroxocobalamin, reacts with cyanide to form cyanocobalamin, which is excreted in urine.
Inhalation of amyl nitrite may aid breathing in victims of cyanide and also carbon monoxide poisoning , although few first aid kits contain these ampules anymore. Depending on the conditions, complete recovery may be possible, although paralysis, liver damage, kidney damage, and hypothyroidism are possible.
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Written By: Tiffany Dazet. MAR 26, The ability to communicate with one another to coordinate behaviors contributes to the success of social mammals, like b MAY 30, A detailed cross-section of another galaxy, known as YGC , has cast previous ideas of how the Milky Way was formed Written By: Annie Lennon. When Caryl Chessman was executed at San Quentin in , he told reporters he would nod if his death was painful.
He nodded his head for 15 seconds before he lapsed into unconsciousness and died. The protracted convulsions and apparent agony of inmates being gassed has caused lethal injection to become a more common execution method.
In lethal injection, a combination of fatal drugs is usually employed. Commonly, a barbiturate, which can cause coma, is combined with curare, a chemical that paralyzes the breathing muscles, and potassium, which can stop the heart from beating.
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