7 “Terrifying” Facts About Cyanide Toxicity

How dangerous is cyanide and what complications can it cause? Let’s explore this topic in the article below!

What is Cyanide?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has shared information about cyanide as follows: It is a fast-acting and potent chemical. It can be lethal in various compound forms.

Chemically, cyanide can exist as a colorless gas, such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) or cyanogen chloride (CNCl), or in crystalline forms like potassium cyanide (KCN) or sodium cyanide (NaCN).

In terms of taste and smell, cyanide is described as having a “bitter almond” smell, though it can sometimes be odorless, making it very difficult to distinguish cyanide from other chemicals.

Moreover, cyanide is present in certain foods and plants such as almonds, lima beans, and cassava. It is also found in the seeds of common fruits like apricots, apples, and peaches. In these plants, cyanide binds with sugar molecules in the form of cyanogenic glycosides. The glycosides themselves are relatively non-toxic; however, they are metabolized into toxic hydrogen cyanide in the intestines.

Cyanide is also found in cigarette smoke. In industrial settings, it is used to produce plastics, paper, and textiles. Hydrogen cyanide gas is commonly used to kill pests and insects.

Why is cyanide considered extremely toxic?

Cyanide is regarded as one of the deadliest substances in the world due to its ability to cause death in small doses.

A healthy individual may lose consciousness within 30 seconds to 2 minutes after ingesting just 200 to 250mg of cyanide. Without timely treatment, the person may fall into a coma within an hour and die within three hours.

Cyanide was historically used as a poison. During World War II, the Nazis employed cyanide in various forms to kill people, causing a terrifying legacy for the people of Europe at that time.

How does cyanide poisoning occur?

In reality, the level of cyanide poisoning depends on how much cyanide a person has been exposed to, the route of exposure, and the duration of exposure. Typically, inhaling cyanide gas causes the most harm. However, swallowing or ingesting cyanide can also lead to poisoning.

Determining whether someone is suffering from cyanide poisoning is difficult since its symptoms often resemble those of other conditions. Specifically, when cyanide enters the human body, it blocks cells from using oxygen, leading to cell death. Notably, organs like the heart and brain, which use the most oxygen, are the most affected. Hydrogen cyanide is particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces, as it readily disperses and evaporates in open air.

1. Cyanide is one of the most toxic substances on Earth

As little as 50 – 200mg of cyanide entering through the mouth can “take down” a healthy person.

2. Cyanide is the most common chemical in the world

Cyanide can exist in multiple forms: solid, liquid, or gas, and is found everywhere: in food, crops, and even in cigarette smoke or smoke from burning plastics.

3. Hydrogen cyanide is colorless but has a bitter almond-like taste

…but only about 40% of the global population can detect this smell.

4. Inhaling just 0.2% of hydrogen cyanide can cause death within one minute

Due to its ability to hinder the body’s use of oxygen, even small amounts can disrupt brain and heart function, resulting in a fatal outcome.

5. Cyanide killed its own “creator”

First discovered in 1782, cyanide caused the death of renowned chemist Karl Scheele.

Karl Scheele was a brilliant chemist who discovered many elements, most notably oxygen (although this research was published first by Joseph Priestley), molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, and chlorine.

During his time, there were no safety measures in place, and the toxicity of chemicals was not fully understood. Scheele had a habit of using all his senses to interact with chemicals, particularly smell and taste. On one occasion, while testing hydrogen cyanide, he believed he would be safe, but due to the simultaneous accumulation of mercury, lead, hydrofluoric acid, and other substances, he died from heavy metal poisoning at the age of 44.

6. This poison can be used as a medicine in some emergency cases

7. Fresh bamboo shoots contain a very high amount of cyanide – about 230mg in one kilogram of bamboo shoots

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Quang Dũng – Deputy Head of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at Hanoi Medical University, among the plants that can cause cyanide poisoning, cassava and fresh bamboo shoots are the most significant. These are common foods in the diets of many Vietnamese families.

A study on three types of bamboo shoots found that: white bamboo shoots (peeled from the bamboo root), white bamboo shoots soaked in water for half a day, and yellow bamboo shoots (boiled and sold in the market) all had concerning levels of cyanide. The cyanide present in bamboo shoots decreases when exposed to water. However, for sour bamboo shoots, during the soaking process, cyanide can combine with certain enzymes or react with some substances in the human intestine, causing acute poisoning. Therefore, when preparing bamboo shoots, it is advisable to follow the traditional wisdom of thoroughly washing, soaking the shoots in water for several hours, and boiling them 1-2 times before consumption to avoid poisoning.

Fresh cassava also contains cyanide. When boiled, especially in large quantities, it can form a scum on the surface of the water. Consuming this substance in high amounts can lead to poisoning. The best way to remove cyanide from cassava is to peel it, then soak it in cold water for several hours before boiling. Additionally, while boiling, it is advisable to keep the pot lid open to allow cyanide to evaporate, significantly reducing the toxicity.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Quang Dũng also notes that people should avoid using water that has been soaked with bamboo shoots because soaking bamboo shoots can produce a certain amount of cyanide. Both cyanide and taxiphyllin diffuse into the water; while the toxin levels in the bamboo shoots may decrease, the toxin levels in the water can increase. Therefore, consuming too much bamboo shoot water can lead to poisoning.

Signs and Complications of Cyanide Poisoning

When suffering from cyanide poisoning, victims typically go through 3 stages: The first stage includes agitation, rapid breathing, confusion, and feelings of excitement. Next, victims may experience shortness of breath, convulsions, and decreased blood pressure. Finally, victims may fall into a deep coma, experience cardiac arrest, lose reflexes, and this can ultimately lead to death.

Individuals exposed to cyanide through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption, even in small amounts, may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Rapid breathing
• Fast heart rate
• Fatigue and weakness

If exposed to a large amount of cyanide through any means, symptoms may include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Convulsions
• Slow heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Respiratory failure leading to death

Dangerous Complications After Cyanide Exposure

Individuals who survive cyanide poisoning may still suffer from damage to the lungs, heart, brain, and nervous system.

What to Do in Case of Cyanide Poisoning?

As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of cyanide poisoning can resemble those of other illnesses, making it difficult for many people to recognize that they have been poisoned. So, what should you do if you encounter a victim of cyanide poisoning?

First, you should provide the victim with oxygen. If the victim was poisoned through ingestion, you need to give them glucose to slow down the toxic effects of cyanide and to protect cells through chemical bonding with this toxin.

Note that during first aid, you should place the patient in a safe recovery position (with the lower half of their body lying face down and their head turned to one side) if they are having convulsions. Absolutely do not allow the patient to hit their head or fall. You should not use hard objects to pry open the victim’s mouth during convulsions but instead use soft items like a towel or clothing. After that, you need to quickly take the victim to the nearest medical facility.

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