Cyanide

Summary

Name: Cyanide
Chemical Formula: CN⁻
Type: Toxic Chemical Compound

History and Background

Cyanide has been used since ancient times, primarily in the form of cyanide salts derived from various plants, including the seeds of the apricot, apple, and cherry. Industrially, cyanide compounds became prominent in the 19th century, particularly with the rise of the gold and silver mining industries, where sodium cyanide was used for extracting metals from ores.

Cyanide is infamous for its rapid toxicity and has been utilized in numerous high-profile suicides and murders throughout history. It is also known for its role in the Holocaust, where it was used in gas chambers as a method of mass execution.

Mechanism

Cyanide works by inhibiting cellular respiration. It binds to cytochrome c oxidase, an essential enzyme in the electron transport chain within mitochondria, preventing cells from using oxygen. This leads to:

• Histotoxic hypoxia: The body is unable to utilize oxygen, resulting in cellular death.
• Lactic acidosis: Cells switch to anaerobic respiration, producing lactic acid, which can lead to metabolic acidosis.

As a result, vital organs, particularly the heart and brain, are quickly deprived of oxygen, leading to rapid systemic failure.

Lethal Dose

The lethal dose of cyanide is estimated to be around 1 to 3 mg/kg when ingested or inhaled. Inhalation of cyanide gas can be lethal at concentrations of just 300 to 500 ppm within minutes.

Symptoms

Symptoms of cyanide poisoning can manifest within seconds to minutes after exposure and may include:

• Initial Symptoms:
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness and confusion
• Progressive Symptoms:
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Cherry-red coloration of the skin (due to oxygen-rich blood)
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Cardiac arrest

In the absence of prompt treatment, cyanide poisoning can lead to death within minutes to hours, depending on the dose and route of exposure.

Time until Death

If untreated, cyanide can cause death within 6 to 8 minutes after inhalation of the gas and within 30 minutes to a few hours after ingestion, depending on the amount consumed.

Antidote

The treatment for cyanide poisoning includes:

• Hydroxocobalamin (Vitamin B12a): Binds to cyanide to form non-toxic cyanocobalamin, which can be excreted by the body.
• Sodium thiosulfate: Acts as a sulfur donor to help convert cyanide into thiocyanate, which is less toxic and can be excreted by the kidneys.
• Supportive care: Including airway management, oxygen therapy, and intravenous fluids.

Immediate administration of these antidotes is critical for survival.

Detection at Autopsy

Cyanide can be detected in blood, urine, and tissues through specialized testing methods, including spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. However, due to its rapid metabolism and excretion, detection can be challenging, especially if the autopsy is conducted long after death.

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