Sodium cyanide

SECTION 2: Hazards identification

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Very toxic by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed. Contact with acids liberates very toxic gas. Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long­term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air).

Potential health effects

Eye: Contact with eyes may cause severe irritation, and possible eye burns. Cyanide can be absorbed through the eyes causing the symptoms described for inhalation. Skin: May be fatal if absorbed through the skin. If absorbed, causes symptoms similar to those of ingestion. Causes severe skin irritation and possible burns. Substance is readily absorbed through the skin. Ingestion: May be fatal if swallowed. May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and possible burns. May cause tissue anoxia, characterized by weakness, headache, dizziness, confusion, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), weak and irregular heart beat, collapse, unconsciousness, convulsions, coma and death. Human fatalities have been reported from acute poisoning. Contact with stomach acid releases poisonous hydrogen cyanide. Inhalation: May be fatal if inhaled. May be metabolized to cyanide which in turns act by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase impairing cellular respiration. Inhalation may result in symptoms similar to cyanide poisoning which include tachypnea, hyperpnea (abnormally rapid or deep breathing), and dyspnea (labored breathing) followed rapidly by respiratory depression. Pulmonary edema may occur. Chronic: May interfere with iodine uptake of the thyroid gland and enlarge it. Chronic exposure to cyanide solutions may lead to the development of a "cyanide" rash, characterized by itching, and by macular, papular, and vesicular eruptions, and may be accompanied by secondary infections. Exposure to small amounts of cyanide compounds over long periods of time is reported to cause loss of appetite, headache, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and symptoms of irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes.