What is Cyanide (Cyanide)? How does it affect health?

When it comes to cyanide, many people will feel scared when this is a chemical that is classified as extremely toxic, so it is very dangerous to health. However, this chemical is still used at permissible levels in the production of paper, textiles, plastic or used to kill pests and insects.

Therefore, understanding this poison will help you stay alert and know how to protect yourself. Join Tnhelearning.edu.vn to find out what cyanide (Cyanide) is and how it affects health through the following article!

What is cyanide (Cyanide)?

According to information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , cyanide is an extremely powerful chemical that can be life-threatening even in many different compounds. Cyanide can exist as a colorless gas such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), cyanide chloride (CNCl) or in crystalline forms such as potassium cyanide (KCN), sodium cyanide (NaCN).

In terms of taste, cyanide has been described as having an odor similar to “bitter almonds”, but is sometimes odorless, making it difficult to distinguish cyanide from other chemicals.

What is cyanide (Cyanide)?

Especially dangerous is that cyanide can be found in nature from foods such as cassava (tapioca), almonds, unprocessed lima beans, or in fruit seeds such as peaches, apples, apricots. In addition, cyanide is also found in tobacco smoke, vegetarian smoke or in textile products, paper production, plastics, and pesticides.

How does cyanide work?

According to Assoc. Prof-Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology and Food (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), said that cyanide is extremely toxic, and it is very dangerous to eat a little bit.

Cyanide on contact will be quickly absorbed into the body and rapidly inhibit the respiratory and nervous systems, so it can be life-threatening even if only a very small dose is consumed.

How does cyanide work?

The degree of danger from cyanide poisoning will depend on the amount of cyanide the body is exposed to, as well as the route and duration of exposure. Inhaling cyanide gas will be the most dangerous, and swallowing and ingesting cyanide will also cause poisoning.

When cyanide enters the human body, this toxin will prevent cells in the body from using oxygen, from which cells will gradually die and be harmful to the heart and brain above all.

Signs and symptoms of cyanide infection

When suffering from cyanide poisoning, victims usually go through 3 stages: The first stage is agitation, shortness of breath, confusion and feeling agitated. Next, the victim will have difficulty breathing, convulsions, and blood pressure drops. Eventually, the victim will experience a deep coma, heart failure, loss of reflexes and possibly death.

Humans can become infected with cyanide by exposure to small amounts by inhalation, skin contact or food ingestion . Signs and symptoms of cyanide infection that last within minutes include: Headache, nausea, dizziness face, rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, body weakness, restlessness.

Signs and symptoms of cyanide infection

If exposed to large amounts of cyanide will have more dangerous symptoms such as:

• The spirit lost consciousness
• Blood pressure drops
• Lung injury
• Convulsion
• Heart rate slows down
• Respiratory failure and leading to death
• If the victim survives the poisoning, there will still be brain, heart and nerve damage

As soon as we detect someone with cyanide poisoning, we need to immediately take the victim to a medical facility for timely emergency measures. Because if not given first aid, timely treatment within 2 hours will have a high risk of death. At the same time, you should carefully prepare carefully before consuming natural foods that are warned by experts to contain cyanide.

Recently, Tnhelearning.edu.vn has informed you about the dangers that cyanide affects human health. Hope this information will help you to have more knowledge and be wary of this extremely toxic substance!

Source: Dan Tri Newspaper, Law Newspaper

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