Cyanide is a naturally occurring toxin found in many animals, insects, bacteria, and plants. When it enters the body, it inhibits cell function, particularly in the brain, heart, and blood vessels, causing a lack of oxygen. This can cause serious harm to the body, even death, in both humans and pets.
Cyanide has three physical forms.
1. Gas is a free form of hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN), which is colorless and has a pungent odor. It is a poisonous gas.
2. Liquid: In the form of hydrogen cyanide, it is a clear liquid that easily evaporates into gas at room temperature.
3. Solids are in compound form with alkaline metals, heavy metals.
Sources of toxins
1. Natural sources of cyanide include amygdalin, which is found in the seeds of apricots and black cherries, and linamarin, which is found in cassava tubers and leaves.
2. Pollution from plastic, metal and organic chemical industries
3. Car fumes, incinerators and cigarette smoke
Toxicity characteristics
Ingestion of cyanide of 50-200 mg or more results in immediate death. Inhalation of cyanide is life-threatening at levels of 110 ppm or more, but at levels of 270 ppm or more results in immediate death. Ingestion of cyanide through the skin results in immediate death at levels exceeding 100 mg per body weight. Most cyanide poisonings are acute, causing death within 1-15 minutes. Chronic cyanide poisoning is less common, and causes neurological disease.
Symptoms of toxicity
The systems in the body that are toxic include the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems. Cyanide binds to ferric, making it impossible for the body and blood to use oxygen. In the circulatory system, cyanide can cause tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, ventricular arrhythmic, or AV-block. In the respiratory system, hyperpnea, dyspnea, or apnea can occur. In the nervous system, seizures or coma can occur.
Dr.Sasipat Kittisarathamma (Dr.Mook)
Internal Medicine Center, Ultrasound Center
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