Cyanide Poisoning

What is it?

• Cyanide (SI-uh-nide) is a chemical that is a deadly poison. It may be a crystal (like salt), or a colorless gas. Cyanide may smell like bitter almonds or have no smell at all.
  
  
• Cyanide is used as an ingredient to make things like paper, cloth, and some plastic items. It can also be used in developing photographs, cleaning metal, removing gold and silver from ore, and electroplating (e-LEK-tro-play-ting). Electroplating means coating an item with metal using an electric current to fuse the two together.
  
  
• Cyanide is naturally present in parts of some foods, such as apricot pits. It is found in the roots of some plants, such as the cassava plant. Cyanide is found in artificial nail removers that contain acetonitrile. Cyanide is also an ingredient of cigarette smoke.
  
  
• Cyanide can be used as a chemical weapon against both military and civilian (non-military) populations.

How do you get poisoned with cyanide?

Cyanide can be breathed in, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Breathing in cyanide will cause rapid, harmful effects. If it is swallowed or absorbed through your skin, the effects of cyanide will occur more slowly. Following are some of the ways you may come in contact with cyanide:

• Building fire smoke: Cyanide gas may be created as a chemical reaction when a building is on fire. Cyanide is also used in some building parts. If those parts catch fire, cyanide gas escapes into the smoke.
  
  
• Contamination: Cyanide may leak into the ground if it is used either as an ingredient or in a process. If you live near a building where cyanide was used, the soil, groundwater, and well water may be contaminated (kun-TAM-ih-na-ted). Contaminated means that cyanide may have leaked into the soil, groundwater, or well water. Food grown in cyanide-contaminated dirt may retain some cyanide.
  
  
• Chemical warfare: People, groups, and countries may use cyanide to kill people or animals. To be most effective, cyanide must be used in an enclosed area. Cyanide spreads quickly in open air.

How does cyanide work?

The air you breathe has oxygen in it. The oxygen goes deep into your lungs and is absorbed into your blood. Your red blood cells pick up the oxygen and carry it throughout your body. All your organs and tissues depend on your blood to bring oxygen to them.

• Cyanide causes a chemical change that keeps the oxygen from getting into your red blood cells.
  
  
• No matter how cyanide gets into your body, it works the same way. It does not have to be breathed in to cause this change. It can also be swallowed or absorbed through your skin.

What are the signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning?

Signs and symptoms depend on how you are exposed to cyanide (breathing in, swallowing, or absorbing through the skin). Signs and symptoms also depend on how much cyanide there is, and how quickly cyanide gets into your body.

If you are exposed to small or moderate amounts of cyanide you will have the following signs and symptoms:

• Rapid (fast) breathing.
  
  
• Restlessness and decreased ability to settle down to tasks like watching TV or reading.
  
  
• Dizziness.
  
  
• Weakness.
  
  
• Headache.
  
  
• Eye irritation (itching, burning).
  
  
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Rapid heartbeat.

If you are exposed to a large amount of cyanide your signs and symptoms may also include:

• Convulsions (kun-VUL-shunz) (seizures).
  
  
• Very slow heartbeat.
  
  
• Loss of consciousness.
  
  
• Your breathing will stop.

How is cyanide poisoning diagnosed?

• Cyanide is a known ingredient of smoke. When a building is on fire, rescue workers or firefighters may make a diagnosis of cyanide poisoning. Smoke survivors reaching a hospital or clinic may be diagnosed by caregivers there. They will make a diagnosis based on information from rescue workers and from your signs and symptoms.
  
  
• In areas where cyanide is in the ground, food, or water, government officials may make a diagnosis based on samples.

What is the treatment for cyanide poisoning?

Seek medical care as soon as possible. There are antidotes (AN-tih-dotes) (substances that reverse the effects of a poison) available for cyanide poisoning. To get these antidotes you need to go to a hospital or clinic as soon as possible.

What should I do if I am exposed to cyanide?

• Gas or spray:
  
  
  • If cyanide is being used as a gas or spray, leave the area and get to some fresh air. If it is released outdoors, move away from the area. If released indoors, go outside.
    
    
  • Cyanide is lighter than air, so it rises. If you cannot get away from the gas, lie on the floor or ground and take shallow breaths.
    
    
  • Remove any clothing that may have cyanide on it. Do not shake the clothing. Put it down carefully. If there is a plastic bag available, put clothing items into it and tie the top. If possible, put the first bag into a second bag and tie the top of the second bag. Do not handle the bags after tying them.
    
    
  • If cyanide gets into your eyes, rinse them for several minutes under running water.
    
    
  • If cyanide may be on your skin, shower with soap and water. Shampoo your hair.
  
  

• Swallowed cyanide:
  
  
  • If you have swallowed cyanide, do not make yourself vomit. Do not drink more liquids. Call 911 to get to a hospital or clinic. Do not drive yourself.
    
    
  • If you suspect that tiny amounts of cyanide are in the air you breathe, the water you drink, or the food you eat, call or see your caregiver. Testing may need to be done. Your testing may include blood tests, urine tests, or stool samples. Environmental testing of water samples, food samples, and air samples may also need to be done.
  
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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