Cyanide. How harmful is it?

Although it is hard to believe, cyanide is an element that is present in our day to day and we consume in very small quantities frequently. Cyanide is a natural chemical that is found in low concentrations throughout nature, including more than a thousand fruits, nuts, plants, and insects. A yucca, apple seeds, almonds, green beans ... All these fruits and vegetables that we eat have small amounts of cyanide. In fact, the largest source of exposure for wild animals and people comes from eating plant foods and crops that contain cyanide.

This does not mean that cyanide is a component that does not harm health. On the contrary, it is a toxic element that can become lethal if consumed in large quantities.

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Hydrogen cyanide arose naturally in the framework of the development of life on our planet. It is part of plants, insects, and microorganisms as a method of protection. It is also generated in various combustion processes, being present in the smoke of the tobacco and in the smoke emanating from the cars during its operation.

At an industrial level, cyanide is obtained by combining ammonia with natural gas or as a by-product derived from the production of acrylic fibers. Its uses are varied: the manufacture of plastics and paints; the preparation of pesticides; the development of medications; and the extraction of silver and gold are some of the activities that are carried out using cyanide, which can appear as hydrogen cyanide, potassium cyanide, sodium cyanide, etc.

It should be noted that cyanide, due to its toxicity, generates damage when it is ingested or inhaled or when it is in contact with the skin. Therefore, in any of these cases, it is necessary to go to a doctor to provide the necessary assistance.

The process used to extract gold using cyanide was developed in Scotland in 1887 and was first used in commercial large-scale mining by the New Zealand Crown Mines Company in Karangahake in 1889. The cyanide leaching process is a much-needed alternative. Safer to extraction with liquid mercury that was previously the main method of separation of gold from the mineral

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Action of cyanide

The poisoning caused by cyanide depends on the amount of cyanide to which the person has been exposed, the manner of exposure and the duration of the exposure. Breathing cyanide gas is what causes the most damage, but ingesting it can also be toxic. The cyanide gas is more dangerous in closed places because the gas is trapped inside them. The cyanide gas evaporates and disperses rapidly in open spaces making it less harmful in the open air, it is less dense than air and for this reason, it tends to rise. Cyanide prevents the cells of the body from receiving oxygen. When this happens, the cells die, it is more harmful to the heart and the brain than to other organs, because the heart and the brain use a lot of oxygen.

Signs and symptoms of exposure to cyanide.

People exposed to small amounts of cyanide from breathing, skin absorption or consumption of foods contaminated with cyanide may have some or all of the following symptoms in a matter of minutes:

• Fast breathing.
• Agitation.
• Dizziness.
• Weakness.
• A headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Rapid heart rate.

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Exposure by any means to a large amount of cyanide can also cause other health effects such as:

• Convulsions.
• Low blood pressure.
• Slow heart rhythm.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Injury to the lung.
• Respiratory failure leading to death.

Survivors of severe cyanide poisoning can develop heart damage and brain damage.

Well, cyanide causes a decoupling in the whole process of energy formed in the electron transport chain and in oxidative phosphorylation.

The beginning of the decoupling begins, with the inhibition of the cytochrome oxidase complex, and therefore blocking the electron transport chain, the central system of the cellular respiration process.

The main harmful and lethal effect of the different varieties of cyanide is to prevent the oxygen carried by the red blood cells reaches the other cells of the body, thus preventing the process of cellular respiration. At the same time, the amount of lactate in the organism is increased, making the action of the Cycle of Cori useless, because it is unable to transport it to the liver for its elimination.

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As a consequence, there is a decrease in intracellular oxygen by not receiving that oxygen, preventing the homeostasis of the cells. With the decrease in the use of O₂ by the cell, a cytotoxic, usually lethal, hypoxia is formed.

Where more damage is caused by cyanide are in those places where more oxygen is consumed and are more irrigated such as the heart and brain.
In this way, the cyanide, causes respiratory paralysis, seizures, and mydriasis (increase in the diameter of the pupil).

The information is extremely important. People who work in environments that use cyanide compounds, for which workers are exposed, should be instructed in the use of protective equipment. Certain compounds that contain cyanide are well absorbed in the dermis and therefore must be mandatory gloves and other protective skin to be part of the costume workers. Compounds containing cyanide should not come in contact with other compounds containing acids. In order to prevent iatrogenic poisoning with cyanide will evaluate the plasma levels of cyanide and thiocyanate and hydroxocobalamin will be administered to hypertensive patients treated with sodium nitroprusside in high doses over a period of five days continuously longer.

A case that was very much talked about in previous years was that of the Croatian general who was poisoned in public at the moment when he was sentenced by the court.

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