Toxicity
Hydrogen cyanide can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin. When inhaled though normal breathing, human lungs retain 58% of HCN, in which it is immediately absorbed. Once absorbed, it is distributed throughout the body though the flow of blood. The critical inhalation is 50ppm (parts per million), the higher the ppm, the quicker the death.
Example: A rat that inhales 1'180 ppm of hydrogen cyanide gas died within 5-10 minutes.
A rabbit that inhaled 2'714 ppm died within 5 minutes.
A man that inhaled HCN and died, various measurements of milligrams of HCN was found in tissue of lungs, heart, blood, kidneys and brain. For a human, 270 ppm of hydrogen cyanid results in immediate death, whereas 135 ppm is deadly after 30 minutes. Inhalation symptons are weakness, dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, headache, vomiting, deep or slow breathing and gasping.
HCN contact with skin can result in a red, swollen rash if not washed with soap and water immediately.
A worker was working with liquid hydrogen cyanide and spilt some on his hand. Inhalation was prevent by a fresh air respirator but the worker collasped unconsciously withing 5 minutes.
Exposure to Environment
Hydrogen cyanide's use in nylon makes the environment more valnurable in various was such as littering, as it will negatively affect wildlife, food chains and vegetation. Most of the human population is exposed to HCN through cigarette smoke inhalation and ingestion specific vegetables such as the roots and leaves of the cassava plant and stone fruit.
Corrosivity
Liuid hydrogen cyanide can destroy some forms of rubber, plastic and coatings. Solutions fo water and HCN cause transcrytalline stress-cracking (corrosion of steel) of carbon steel. When water and HCN solutions contain sulfuric acid, it can corroed steel and stainless steel.
Hydrogen cyanide can be inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin. When inhaled though normal breathing, human lungs retain 58% of HCN, in which it is immediately absorbed. Once absorbed, it is distributed throughout the body though the flow of blood. The critical inhalation is 50ppm (parts per million), the higher the ppm, the quicker the death.
Example: A rat that inhales 1'180 ppm of hydrogen cyanide gas died within 5-10 minutes.
A rabbit that inhaled 2'714 ppm died within 5 minutes.
A man that inhaled HCN and died, various measurements of milligrams of HCN was found in tissue of lungs, heart, blood, kidneys and brain. For a human, 270 ppm of hydrogen cyanid results in immediate death, whereas 135 ppm is deadly after 30 minutes. Inhalation symptons are weakness, dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, headache, vomiting, deep or slow breathing and gasping.
HCN contact with skin can result in a red, swollen rash if not washed with soap and water immediately.
A worker was working with liquid hydrogen cyanide and spilt some on his hand. Inhalation was prevent by a fresh air respirator but the worker collasped unconsciously withing 5 minutes.
Exposure to Environment
Hydrogen cyanide's use in nylon makes the environment more valnurable in various was such as littering, as it will negatively affect wildlife, food chains and vegetation. Most of the human population is exposed to HCN through cigarette smoke inhalation and ingestion specific vegetables such as the roots and leaves of the cassava plant and stone fruit.
Corrosivity
Liuid hydrogen cyanide can destroy some forms of rubber, plastic and coatings. Solutions fo water and HCN cause transcrytalline stress-cracking (corrosion of steel) of carbon steel. When water and HCN solutions contain sulfuric acid, it can corroed steel and stainless steel.