Potassium cyanide: effect on humans, symptoms of poisoning, treatment. How does potassium cyanide affect humans?

April 25th, 2016

At school I didn’t like chemistry and could barely get a C, but they gave me a “4” because I was going for a “silver medal”. At the institute, I barely made it through chemistry in my first year and was immensely happy when it ended completely. But damn it, reading about it in popular scientific language is very interesting. Here's an example:

Cyanides, that is, hydrocyanic acid and its salts, are far from the most powerful poisons in nature. However, they are definitely the most famous and perhaps the most frequently used in books and movies.

The history of cyanide can be confidently traced almost from the first written sources that have reached us. The ancient Egyptians, for example, used peach seeds to obtain a deadly essence, which is simply called “peach” in the papyri on display in the Louvre.

Lethal peach synthesis

Peach, like two and a half hundred other plants, including almonds, cherries, sweet cherries, and plums, belongs to the plum genus. The seeds of the fruits of these plants contain the substance amygdalin, a glycoside that perfectly illustrates the concept of “lethal synthesis.” This term is not entirely correct; it would be more correct to call the phenomenon “lethal metabolism”: during its course, a harmless (and sometimes even useful) compound is broken down into a potent poison by the action of enzymes and other substances. In the stomach, amygdalin undergoes hydrolysis, and one molecule of glucose is split off from its molecule - prunasin is formed (a certain amount of it is initially contained in the seeds of berries and fruits). Next, enzyme systems (prunasin-β-glucosidase) are activated, which “bite off” the last remaining glucose, after which the compound mandelonitrile remains from the original molecule. In fact, this is a metacompound that either sticks together into a single molecule, then breaks down again into its components - benzaldehyde (a weak poison with a semi-lethal dose, that is, a dose that causes the death of half the members of the test group, DL50 - 1.3 g / kg of rat body weight) and hydrocyanic acid (DL50 - 3.7 mg/kg rat body weight). It is these two substances in pairs that provide the characteristic smell of bitter almonds.

There is not a single confirmed case of death in the medical literature after eating peach or apricot kernels, although cases of poisoning that required hospitalization have been described. And there is a fairly simple explanation for this: to form poison, you only need raw bones, and you can’t eat too many of them. Why raw? In order for amygdalin to turn into hydrocyanic acid, enzymes are needed, and under the influence of high temperature (sunlight, boiling, frying) they are denatured. So compotes, jam and “red-hot” seeds are completely safe. Purely theoretically, poisoning with tincture of fresh cherries or apricots is possible, since in this case there are no denaturing factors. But there another mechanism for neutralizing the resulting hydrocyanic acid comes into play, described at the end of the article.

Heavenly color, blue color

Why is the acid called hydrocyanic? The cyano group combines with iron to produce a rich, bright blue color. The best known compound is Prussian blue, a mixture of hexacyanoferrates with the idealized formula Fe7(CN)18. It was from this dye that hydrogen cyanide was isolated in 1704. From it, pure hydrocyanic acid was obtained and its structure was determined in 1782 by the outstanding Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. As legend has it, four years later, on his wedding day, Scheele died at his desk. Among the reagents surrounding him was HCN.

Military background

The effectiveness of cyanide for the targeted elimination of the enemy has always attracted the military. But large-scale experiments became possible only at the beginning of the 20th century, when methods for producing cyanide in industrial quantities were developed.
On July 1, 1916, the French used hydrogen cyanide against German troops for the first time in the battles near the Somme River. However, the attack failed: HCN vapors are lighter than air and quickly evaporate at high temperatures, so the “chlorine” trick with an ominous cloud spreading along the ground could not be repeated. Attempts to make hydrogen cyanide heavier with arsenic trichloride, tin chloride and chloroform were unsuccessful, so the use of cyanide had to be forgotten. More precisely, postpone it until World War II.

The German chemical school and chemical industry at the beginning of the 20th century had no equal. Outstanding scientists worked for the benefit of the country, including the 1918 Nobel laureate Fritz Haber. Under his leadership, a group of researchers at the newly created German Pest Control Society (Degesch) modified hydrocyanic acid, which had been used as a fumigant since the late 19th century. To reduce the volatility of the compound, German chemists used an adsorbent. Before use, the granules had to be immersed in water to release the insecticide accumulated in them. The product was called "Cyclone". In 1922, Degesch became the sole owner of the Degussa company. In 1926, a patent was registered for the group of developers for the second, very successful version of the insecticide - “Cyclone B”, which was distinguished by a more powerful sorbent, the presence of a stabilizer, and also an irritant that caused eye irritation - to avoid accidental poisoning.

Meanwhile, Haber actively promoted the idea of ​​chemical weapons since the First World War, and many of his developments had purely military significance. “If soldiers die in war, then what difference does it make from what exactly,” he said. Haber's scientific and business career was steadily going uphill, and he naively believed that his services to Germany had long ago made him a full-fledged German. However, for the growing Nazis, he was first and foremost a Jew. Haber began to look for work in other countries, but, despite all his scientific achievements, many scientists did not forgive him for the development of chemical weapons. Nevertheless, in 1933, Haber and his family left for France, then to Spain, then to Switzerland, where he died in January 1934, fortunately for himself, without having time to see for what purposes the Nazis used the Zyklon B.

Modus operandi

Hydrocyanic acid vapor is not very effective as a poison when inhaled, but when its salts are ingested, DL50 is only 2.5 mg/kg body weight (for potassium cyanide). Cyanides block the last stage of the transfer of protons and electrons by a chain of respiratory enzymes from oxidized substrates to oxygen, that is, they stop cellular respiration. This process is not fast - minutes even at ultra-high doses. But the cinematography showing the rapid action of cyanide does not lie: the first phase of poisoning - loss of consciousness - actually occurs within a few seconds. The agony lasts for a few more minutes - convulsions, rise and fall of blood pressure, and only then does breathing and cardiac activity stop.
With smaller doses, it is even possible to track several periods of poisoning. First, a bitter taste and burning sensation in the mouth, salivation, nausea, headache, increased breathing, poor coordination of movements, and increasing weakness. Later, painful shortness of breath occurs, the tissues do not have enough oxygen, so the brain gives a command to increase and deepen breathing (this is a very characteristic symptom). Gradually, breathing is suppressed, and another characteristic symptom appears - a short inhalation and a very long exhalation. The pulse becomes rarer, the pressure drops, the pupils dilate, the skin and mucous membranes turn pink, and do not turn blue or pale, as in other cases of hypoxia. If the dose is non-lethal, that’s all; after a few hours the symptoms disappear. Otherwise, there comes a turn of loss of consciousness and convulsions, and then an arrhythmia occurs, and cardiac arrest is possible. Sometimes paralysis and long-term (up to several days) coma develop.

Almonds and others

Amygdalin is found in plants of the Rosaceae family (plum genus - cherry, cherry plum, sakura, cherry, peach, apricot, almond, bird cherry, plum), as well as in representatives of the families of cereals, legumes, adoxaceae (elderberry genus), flax (flax genus), Euphorbiaceae (cassava genus). The content of amygdalin in berries and fruits depends on many different factors. So, in apple seeds it can be from 1 to 4 mg/kg. In freshly squeezed apple juice - 0.01−0.04 mg/ml, and in packaged juice - 0.001−0.007 ml/ml. For comparison: apricot kernels contain 89−2170 mg/kg.

Poisoned - poison

Cyanides have a very high affinity for ferric iron, which is why they rush into cells to reach respiratory enzymes. So the idea of ​​a poison decoy was in the air. It was first implemented in 1929 by Romanian researchers Mladoveanu and Georgiu, who first poisoned a dog with a lethal dose of cyanide and then saved it by intravenous administration of sodium nitrite. Nowadays, the food additive E250 is being defamed by everyone and everything, but the animal, by the way, survived: sodium nitrite combined with hemoglobin forms methemoglobin, which cyanides in the blood “peck” at better than respiratory enzymes, for which you still need to get inside cells.
Nitrites oxidize hemoglobin very quickly, so one of the most effective antidotes (antidotes) - amyl nitrite, isoamyl ester of nitrous acid - can simply be inhaled from a cotton swab, like ammonia. Later it turned out that methemoglobin not only binds cyanide ions circulating in the blood, but also unblocks the respiratory enzymes “closed” by them. The group of methemoglobin formers, albeit slower ones, also includes the dye methylene blue (known as “blue”).

There is also the other side of the coin: when administered intravenously, nitrites themselves become poisons. So it is possible to saturate the blood with methemoglobin only with strict control of its content, no more than 25-30% of the total mass of hemoglobin. There is one more nuance: the binding reaction is reversible, that is, after some time the formed complex will disintegrate and cyanide ions will rush inside the cells to their traditional targets. So another line of defense is needed, which is used, for example, cobalt compounds (cobalt salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxycobalamin - one of the B12 vitamins), as well as the anticoagulant heparin, beta-hydroxyethylmethyleneamine, hydroquinone, sodium thiosulfate.

It doesn't heal, it cripples!

Amygdalin is popular among medical charlatans who call themselves representatives of alternative medicine. Since 1961, under the brand name "Laetrile" or under the name "Vitamin B17", a semi-synthetic analogue of amygdalin has been actively promoted as a "cancer treatment". There is no scientific basis for this. In 2005, the journal Annals of Pharmacotherapy described a case of severe cyanide poisoning: a 68-year-old patient took Laetrile, as well as hyperdoses of vitamin C, hoping to enhance the preventive effect. As it turns out, this combination leads exactly in the opposite direction from health.

The Rasputin incident

But the most interesting antidote is much simpler and more accessible. Chemists noticed at the end of the 19th century that cyanides are converted into non-toxic compounds when interacting with sugar (this happens especially effectively in solution). The mechanism of this phenomenon was explained in 1915 by German scientists Rupp and Golze: cyanides, reacting with substances containing an aldehyde group, form cyanohydrins. Such groups are found in glucose, and amygdalin, mentioned at the beginning of the article, is essentially cyanide neutralized by glucose.
If Prince Yusupov or one of the conspirators who joined him - Purishkevich or Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich - knew about this, they would not have started filling cakes (where sucrose was already hydrolyzed to glucose) and wine (where glucose was also present) intended for treats to Grigory Rasputin, potassium cyanide. However, there is an opinion that he was not poisoned at all, and the story about the poison appeared to confuse the investigation. No poison was found in the stomach of the “royal friend,” but this means absolutely nothing - no one was looking for cyanohydrins there.

Glucose has its advantages: for example, it can restore hemoglobin. This turns out to be very useful for “picking up” detached cyanide ions when using nitrites and other “poisonous antidotes”. There is even a ready-made drug, “chromosmon” - a 1% solution of methylene blue in a 25% glucose solution. But there are also annoying disadvantages. First, cyanohydrins are formed slowly, much more slowly than methemoglobin. Secondly, they are formed only in the blood and only before the poison penetrates the cells to the respiratory enzymes. In addition, eating potassium cyanide with a piece of sugar will not work: sucrose does not react with cyanide directly; it must first break down into glucose and fructose. So if you are afraid of cyanide poisoning, it is better to carry an ampoule of amyl nitrite with you - crush it in a scarf and breathe for 10-15 seconds. And then you can call an ambulance and complain that you were poisoned with cyanide. The doctors will be surprised!

What do Grigory Rasputin, Vladimir Lenin and an unknown elephant named Yambo have in common? A lover of action-packed detective novels, in which treacherous crimes are accompanied by an almond aroma, can easily answer this question.

Potassium cyanide is a substance that became an effective replacement for the “royal poison” and took part in many political feuds, where it was necessary to remove government officials disliked by the regime from the road. At one time they tried to deal with the help of this poison not only with the power-hungry old man, the leader of the Communist Party and other prominent persons, but also with the unfortunate animal from the Odessa circus. Moreover, the elephant Yambo went down in history because his poisoning, like the poisoning of Rasputin, was not successful.

This strongest inorganic poison is inaccessible to the average person today, so cyanide poisoning is very rare. However, the industry uses enough poisonous and toxic substances to cause harm without even being in an Agatha Christie novel.

Taking precautions when coming into contact with hazardous chemical compounds is often not enough and it is necessary to know how potassium cyanide affects humans in order to provide first aid in a timely manner.

What is potassium cyanide and what is it eaten with?

It is not known for certain when humanity first became acquainted with hydrocyanic acid derivatives and their properties. Cyanides boast ancient origins and a rich history: these substances were first mentioned by the ancient Egyptians, who obtained them from peach pits.

The assumption of a deadly poison in such a popular delicacy seems absurd, however, more than two and a half hundred plants of the plum genus have similar properties. Why has no one been poisoned by eating the fruits of these trees yet?

The secret is quite simple: the poison is contained in fruit seeds. During metabolism, a natural glycoside called amygdalin is broken down by enzymes in gastric juice and forms toxic compounds. After hydrolysis, the amygdalin molecule loses glucose and breaks down into benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid.

There are no documented cases of death from eating the fruit in the medical literature, since cyanide poisoning requires eating so many seeds raw. However, a child can become poisoned by swallowing 10 or more seeds, so parents need to be extremely careful.

Jams, compotes, and tinctures made from these fruits do not actually pose a threat, even if you do not remove the seeds from the fruits. After heat treatment and preservation, amygdalin loses its toxic properties, and the potassium salt of hydrocyanic acid itself dissolves well in water and alcohol.

Cyanide itself is an unremarkable white powder, but its compounds with iron molecules are distinguished by a variety of shades of blue. Thanks to this property, the substance is more popularly known as “blue,” and one of the most famous dyes based on it is Prussian blue. It was from this substance that it was first chemically synthesized by a Swedish scientist.

Areas of human activity in which one may encounter cyanide today:

• agriculture and entomology (used as an insecticide);
• mining and processing production;
• creation of galvanic coatings;
• production of plastic and products made from it;
• developing photographic film;
• production of fabric dyes and paints for artists in all shades of blue;
• military affairs (during Nazi Germany).

Industrial enterprises where potassium cyanide is actively used can pose a danger even to the non-industrial population. Toxic wastewater pollutes water bodies and causes the death of their inhabitants and mass poisoning among people.

It has been proven that the sense of smell largely depends on a person’s genetic characteristics. The characteristic almond aroma appears during the hydrolysis of hydrocyanic acid - the smell of hydrogen cyanide, which is released in the process. There is a possibility of poisoning by the vapors of this substance, so it is highly not recommended to empirically test what cyanide smells like.

How does potassium cyanide work?

There is an opinion that if a small amount of this substance enters the stomach, instant death occurs. This statement is only half true.

Indeed, potassium cyanide is a dangerous poison for humans, but in fact, the use of this substance does not lead to immediate death. The mechanism of its action on the human body is more complex than it might seem:

1. A special enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, is responsible for the absorption of oxygen at the cellular level. During the studies, the venous blood of the test animals was bright scarlet, like arterial blood. This indicated that when it enters the body, the poison blocks this enzyme.
2. Next, oxygen metabolism is disrupted and oxygen starvation of cells occurs. Oxygen molecules circulate freely in the blood, bound to hemoglobin.
3. Cells gradually begin to die, the normal functioning of internal organs is disrupted, and then their activity stops altogether.
4. The result is death, which in all respects resembles suffocation.

It can be seen that death from cyanide poisoning does not occur immediately, but a person can lose consciousness very quickly due to lack of oxygen.

Damage to the body is possible not only when poison enters the stomach, but also when inhaling its vapors and when it comes into contact with the skin (especially in places of damage).

How does poisoning manifest itself?

As with most intoxications, the result of a person’s encounter with this poison can take both acute and chronic forms.

Acute poisoning occurs immediately a few minutes after ingesting the poison or inhaling cyanide powder. This effect of potassium cyanide on humans is due to the fact that the substance is quickly absorbed into the blood through the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach.

Poisoning can be divided into four main phases, each of which is characterized by special features:

1. The first prodromal phase, during which symptoms just begin to appear:

• discomfort and bitterness in the mouth;
• sore throat, irritation of mucous membranes;
• increased salivation;
• slight numbness of the mucous membranes;
• dizziness accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• squeezing pain in the chest.

1. At the second stage, there is an active development of oxygen starvation of the body:

• drop in blood pressure, slowing heart rate and pulse;
• increased pain and heaviness in the piles;
• difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
• general weakness, severe dizziness;
• redness and protrusion of the eyes as if suffocating, dilated pupils;
• the appearance of a feeling of fear, panic.

1. The above picture is complemented by convulsive twitching, convulsions, and involuntary defecation and urination may occur. When a lethal dose is consumed, the patient loses consciousness.
2. At this stage, death is inevitable. Death occurs 20-40 minutes after the first signs appear as a result of respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest.

At full strength, the poison acts in the body for about four hours. If death does not occur during this time, the patient, as a rule, remains alive. But even after complete recovery, the activity of areas of the cerebral cortex is disrupted, the functionality of which can no longer be restored.

A person’s life can be saved if you immediately call an ambulance and promptly provide first aid before the medical team arrives:

• provide the patient with free breathing;
• remove constrictive clothing and things that may have been exposed to poison;
• rinse the stomach as quickly as possible with plenty of water, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or soda.

If the victim is unconscious, it is necessary, if possible, to resuscitate him using artificial respiration and cardiac massage. Upon arrival of the doctor, the patient will be given a specific antidote that will neutralize the effect of the poison.

Such poisonings are very serious and dangerous, so treatment should occur in a hospital and be prescribed after examining the patient and taking his tests.

Potassium cyanide antidote

According to the latest news in the field of chemistry and biology, a new fast-acting antidote against cyanide has recently been invented. Scientists claim that this substance can neutralize the toxin within three minutes. However, it is not yet widely used, and the antidotes used by modern medicine act very slowly.

Help, as a rule, is provided with the help of nitrogenous substances and compounds that easily release sulfur from the group of methemoglobin-forming agents. There are several varieties of such antidotes, which differ in their methods of application, but act on the same principle: they “tear” oxygen from hemoglobin so that it gains the ability to cleanse cells of toxin. Most often, the victim is given amyl nitrite to sniff, sodium nitrite or methyl blue is injected intravenously in the form of a solution.

One of the most unexpected antidotes and the reason for the failure of the killers of Rasputin and the elephant Yambo is glucose. They tried to treat both of them with sweets filled with cyanide. When the poison has already entered the blood, glucose is useless and can only serve as an auxiliary agent for the treatment of poisoning, but it can weaken the effect of the toxin by entering into synthesis with it. Sulfur has the same property, the presence of which in large quantities in the victim’s stomach reduces the effectiveness of the poison.

Industrial workers exposed to potassium cyanide take precautions and often use sugar as an additional means of protection. However, this cannot fully protect against the accumulation of toxic substances in the body. If chronic poisoning is suspected, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination to prescribe the correct treatment.

There is no return” (W. Shakespeare). When ingested, cyanide produces an inhibitory effect. Or, for mere mortals, it creates conditions under which the body's cells stop absorbing the oxygen contained in the blood. And then a kind of suffocation occurs at the cellular level. Scary? At this point, it seems, one can put a cross in every sense and condemn the substance to eternal torment in the ninth hell, where it itself sent many people. But... not everything is so simple. It turns out that potassium cyanide has acquired a lot of legends during its existence.

Mythology of cyanide

Let's debunk myths.

A little history

During the times of Ancient Rome, there were such special people - fortunetellers or priests. They chewed laurel leaves and then gave a news report for the upcoming reporting period. And jokes aside, they had strong hallucinations, which were given great importance in those days. And, as you already guessed, the reason for this was bay leaves or bay laurel, which is successfully used in cooking today.

Indeed, the leaves of this plant contain potassium cyanide, or rather hydrocyanic acid, as well as many other substances. But it was precisely thanks to poison in micro doses that the rulers of the Roman Empire received the “blessing of the gods” or their “disfavor.”

And again the question is, what about cooking? Should we stop using such a pleasant spice? Not at all! Let us remember that dried leaves are added to the soup, which were stored for an unknown amount of time, first in the supplier’s warehouse, and then in the store. And the priests preferred fresh product. So... bon appetit!

And a few more words

Not so simple.

Not everything is so simple with potassium cyanide. He is both dangerous and not entirely. He can “connect you with the gods” or send you directly to them for an audience without a return ticket. In any case, there is no point in experimenting again with this extremely dangerous substance, which humanity has isolated for its own misfortune.

Video on the topic

Sources:

• A little more about cyanide

There are millions of different animals in the world. Some of them are completely harmless to people, and some become a threat to human life.

One of the most dangerous animals are mosquitoes that carry tropical. They live a little south of the Sahara. The danger of mosquitoes lies in the fact that they move easily in space, they can land on a person unnoticed and infect him with malaria with their bite.

Poisonous animals have become another dangerous animal. They have a huge number and reach a length of about four and a half meters. Notice that there are poisonous capsules in each of their tentacles. In this regard, they can kill more than fifty people in a year.

Venomous snakes kill more than 55,000 people worldwide every year. However, the most dangerous to life are efa, viper and cobra. They are found mainly in the CIS countries.

Who can attack a person

One of the most dangerous poisons is potassium cyanide, whose effect on humans is simply destructive. The toxic substance was repeatedly used in attempts to poison famous figures; it is known from numerous detective stories as the poison of sophisticated killers. Due to the lack of odor and external resemblance to granulated sugar, there is a risk of accidental intoxication.

Potassium cyanide information

The chemical with the formula KCN belongs to the broad group of cyanides. It combines plant toxins and laboratory developments based on them. Potassium cyanide was first obtained in Germany in the middle of the 19th century, and for a long time it was available for free sale in pharmacies. After numerous poisonings, it was banned for household work and was classified as one of the ten most dangerous compounds for humans.

In nature, cyanide is an organic substance found in many fruit acids. In minimal quantities it can be found in the juice and seeds of peach, plum, and some varieties of almonds. The molecules are found in the pulp of pears, apricots and apples. But the potassium cyanide content is so low that poisoning is impossible even if you eat several kilograms of fruit every day. Cyanide ions are included in the vitamin B12 formula and are involved in the process of hematopoiesis.

Potassium cyanide, made synthetically, is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid. It is widely used in printing and developing photographs, and is indispensable in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, chemical solutions and reagents. With its help, jewelers create unique masterpieces from gold, and toxic compounds help get rid of pests and insects on farms.

There is a widespread belief about what cyanide smells like. Many people not involved in chemical production are sure that the toxin has an almond aroma. Therefore, the victim will have a specific smell from the mouth, which will facilitate diagnosis. In reality, there is no such sign, and an attempt to sniff the powder can result in poisoning.

Effect of potassium cyanide on the body

Anyone should know what potassium cyanide looks like in order to prevent a dangerous situation in a timely manner. The structure of the industrially produced composition resembles white sugar crystals. It dissolves easily in liquids without betraying its taste or aroma.

In most cases, poisoning is oral; potassium cyanide is absorbed through food and drinks. Airborne intoxication occurs when working with certain types of gouache, inhaling fine powder during an accident in the workshop, or treating the room for rodents. There is a danger of injury if the composition gets on open wounds or hangnails on the fingers.

The effect of potassium cyanide on the body is to block the enzyme cytochrome oxidase. It is involved in all vital processes, stimulates the division of new cells, binds and transports oxygen molecules, saturating soft tissues and mucous membranes. Cyanide blocks this connection with hemoglobin, stopping the functioning of all systems and organs. The mechanism resembles suffocation from lack of oxygen.

Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning

The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of potassium cyanide consumed, therefore, acute and chronic stages of poisoning are distinguished. The lethal dose of cyanide is 17 mg per 1 kg of body weight. At a concentration of 10 to 15 mg, severe damage to internal organs occurs within 30–40 minutes. With a single dose of 50 mg, a person dies within 1 minute.

The lethal dose depends on the weight, age and health characteristics of the victim. There are several ways to be poisoned by potassium cyanide:

• in case of an emergency leak at the enterprise;
• in case of violation of storage rules in the laboratory or at home;
• when working with powder without protective equipment.

Another common method for producing a high dose of potassium cyanide is based on chemical reactions. Some people unknowingly keep the composition in a room with high humidity. When the critical norm of water in the air is exceeded, decomposition into components occurs, the formula is disrupted, senile hydrogen, sodium and toxic fumes are released, which remain in the room and settle on the mucous membranes and alveoli of the bronchi.

Knowing how potassium cyanide and toxic agents work, acute poisoning can be diagnosed by symptoms. There are several stages of development of intoxication:

1. There is a headache, spasms in the temples, severe dizziness. When measuring the pulse, there is a noticeable increase in heart rate, the heart rhythm is disturbed, the skin on the face and chest turns red from a sudden rush of blood.
2. Breathing becomes frequent and loud, adding a feeling of lack of air. The person tries to take a deep breath, but does not feel relief. The pupils dilate, practically do not react to light, and vomiting may occur.
3. Lack of oxygen in the blood provokes fainting, limb cramps, and smooth muscle spasms. Poisoning with potassium cyanide increases the risk of a seizure with damage to the tongue.
4. The patient is paralyzed, the reaction to pain and irritants completely disappears. As with a stroke, involuntary emptying of the intestines and bladder begins. Death from potassium cyanide occurs after excruciating agony from respiratory paralysis and death of brain cells.

Important! During the Cold War, intelligence officers and secret agents had a miniature cyanide capsule sewn into the inside of their cheeks, which, when bitten, resulted in instant death and helped avoid torture and loss of important information.

Doctors explain what will happen if you drink potassium cyanide in a minimal dosage. The main blow falls on the liver, which diligently neutralizes toxic compounds. It protects hemoglobin cells and destroys their binding with poisons. In this situation, the symptoms are mild, the victim only feels dizziness and malaise.

It is more difficult to detect chronic potassium cyanide poisoning. When entering the blood daily, the particles settle in soft tissues, and the properties appear gradually. A person feels tired, and due to insufficient oxygen supply, he is overcome by drowsiness and absent-mindedness. Blood tests show a decrease in hemoglobin and an increase in liver tests.

First aid for potassium cyanide intoxication

If a person exhibits symptoms of potassium cyanide poisoning, first aid must be provided immediately - the victim’s life may depend on the speed and correctness of actions. The patient must be provided with a flow of fresh air and taken outside from a room saturated with toxic fumes. At the same time, an ambulance is called, following the operator’s recommendations.

Potassium cyanide is a poison that can penetrate through pores and cuts on the skin, so work clothes are removed from the person. Exposed areas of the body are wiped with a towel dipped in soapy water. While maintaining consciousness, it is necessary to rinse the mouth and rinse the nose from dust. To prepare a disinfecting solution, use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or antiseptics.

It is important to provide proper assistance in case of loss of consciousness:

1. The victim is placed on his side so that he does not choke on the vomit.
2. Constantly check your pulse, monitor your breathing rate and chest contractions.
3. If necessary, perform a cardiac massage.

After hospitalization of the patient, the person who provided assistance must contact a medical facility. He also needs to be given an antidote to prevent secondary potassium poisoning. The following drugs act in this capacity:

• sodium nitrite;
• glucose;
• any hemoglobin converters;
• amyl nitrite;
• sodium thiosulfate.

At home, before the doctor arrives, you can give regular sugar. Sweet glucose perfectly replaces the antidote and breaks down potassium cyanide into compounds k2c2o4 and salts that are safe for the body. It is offered to the patient in the form of a piece of refined sugar, concentrated syrup. If the chewing muscles are weak, pour one spoonful of sweetened tea or water into the mouth and allow a little sand to dissolve. This procedure is strictly prohibited for diabetes mellitus.

It should be remembered that to neutralize potassium cyanide, a direct reaction with a product containing glucose and its derivatives is necessary. Therefore, the sweet medicine should be obtained as early as possible to ensure contact of the chemicals in the stomach. If the poison gets into the blood and several hours have passed, it will be impossible to correct the situation.

Upon admission to the hospital, the first action of toxicologists is to administer the drugs Lobelin or Cititon. They are designed to stimulate the parts of the brain responsible for breathing. Additionally, the victim is transferred to artificial ventilation, and the concentration of oxygen ions is increased. The following steps can help make potassium cyanide safer:

In the case of the patient, the patient is kept under constant observation. On the second day, potassium cyanide intoxication often causes kidney dysfunction, liver damage and other life-threatening complications. Complete rehabilitation takes several months.

Possible consequences

Whether potassium cyanide kills quickly or slowly depends on the dose taken. But a person rarely manages to fully recover: the chemical and oxygen starvation provoke the death of brain cells. The victim has problems with memory, assimilation of information, and coordination of movements is impaired. Health consequences may include:

• decreased liver function;
• hormonal imbalance;
• deterioration of the thyroid gland;
• problems with conception.

Half of those affected by potassium cyanide develop long-term neuroses, characterized by uncontrolled surges in blood pressure, arrhythmia, and frequent. The person experiences mood swings, becomes irritable and inattentive.

Prevention when working with cyanides

At enterprises that actively use the chemical as a reagent, the emphasis is on respiratory and skin protection. All actions must be carried out in special clothing and gloves using masks and respirators. Considering that when there is a leak, the smell of potassium cyanide is not noticeable, professionals resort to a trick: they put a piece of sugar in the cheek. When the toxin gets into the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, it is instantly neutralized. To reduce the risk of poisoning, you should follow the recommendations:

1. In workshops where potassium cyanide or hydrocyanic acid is contained, carry out preventive training for neutralization.
2. Visit your therapist regularly for examinations and tests.
3. Do not try powder of unknown origin on your tongue, do not check what cyanide smells like.

At home, toxicologists do not recommend consuming apricot kernels for food or medicinal purposes. If you are going to work with paints based on potassium cyanide at home, you should purchase an antidote and familiarize yourself with the specifics of first aid.

Almost all people know that potassium cyanide is a poison that can cause instant death in humans.

However, there are more dangerous poisons, and accidents associated with this substance most often occur at work.

What should a person know about potassium cyanide, and how to act if poisoning with this substance occurs?

What it is

Potassium cyanide is a white powdery substance. Dissolves perfectly in water and hot alcohol. It is a derivative of hydrocyanic acid. The chemical formula of the substance is KCN.

What does potassium cyanide smell like? The common belief that the poison has the smell of bitter almonds is not entirely true. Dry powder does not smell, but when interacting with water vapor and carbon dioxide, an odor may appear. However, only fifty percent of all people feel it.

In production, potassium cyanide is handled very carefully, using gloves and hoods. Many experimenters, thinking about how to get this poison at home, conduct various experiments. However, in such cases, poisoning from such potassium vapor may occur.

Potassium cyanide: where is it found?

Where can you get potassium cyanide? In nature, this substance is found in some plants. It is present in the seeds of fruits such as apricots, peaches, cherries, and plums. The lethal dose is 100 grams, so you should not get carried away with such products. Almonds should also only be purchased from trusted places to avoid hydrocyanic acid poisoning.

The cyanide used in production is obtained chemically. The areas of application of such potassium are quite diverse.

Application:

• mining,
• jewelry industry,
• photo business,
• paints for artists,
• entomology (various stains for insects).

As already written above, you can get potassium cyanide at home, but you should think very carefully before doing it. By the way, on the Internet the question of where you can get it or how to make cyanide comes up quite often.

However, you cannot buy it anywhere. The substance is poisonous, so strict records are kept of it in laboratories. It is worth knowing that this potassium cannot be stored for a long time, so there are no reserves of it.

Effect on the body

How does potassium cyanide affect the human body? When ingested, an important cellular enzyme, cytochrome oxidase, is blocked.

Oxygen starvation of cells develops; they simply do not absorb it. Oxygen remains in the blood, which turns bright red.

As a result of such exposure to the poison, cells begin to die, organs cease to function normally, and death occurs.

The effect of potassium cyanide on a person can be compared to suffocation, when the victim simply suffocates from lack of oxygen.

Intoxication can occur as a result of ingestion of poison through the oral cavity, through the respiratory tract when inhaling powder or vapor of a substance.

You should know that the effect of potassium cyanide is slightly neutralized by glucose. Therefore, in laboratories, workers always keep a piece of sugar in their mouth. In addition, in a full stomach, the poison acts longer, which makes it possible to have time to provide the necessary assistance to a person.

Video: about potassium cyanide

Symptoms and signs of potassium poisoning

How do you understand that intoxication has occurred? What should you pay attention to? It is worth knowing that a small dose of poison does not immediately provoke death, so it is quite possible to provide assistance to the victim.

Cyanide poisoning can be acute or chronic. In each case, different symptoms stand out.

Signs of acute poisoning:

• nausea, vomiting,
• numbness in the mouth,
• salivation,
• metallic taste,
• dizziness,
• rapid breathing,
• feeling of suffocation
• protrusion of eyes,
• pupil dilation,
• convulsions,
• involuntary urination and defecation,
• loss of consciousness,
• lack of reflexes and sensitivity,
• coma,
• stopping breathing.

If assistance is provided at the initial stage, a person can be saved.

Chronic poisoning occurs as a result of the constant entry of potassium cyanide into the human body.

Signs of chronic intoxication:

• constant headaches,
• frequent dizziness,
• memory problems,
• cardiac dysfunction,
• weight loss,
• frequent urination,
• increased sweating.

Allergic reactions on the skin may also occur, and various diseases may worsen.

If signs of poisoning are detected, it is necessary to call doctors and provide the person with the necessary assistance.

First aid and treatment

If potassium cyanide intoxication is detected, there is no time to waste. It is necessary to provide assistance to the victim as quickly as possible. First of all, you should call a team of doctors, and then take first aid measures.

Therapy:

• If potassium cyanide is ingested through the mouth, rinse the stomach with plenty of water.
• In case of vapor poisoning, a person needs to provide access to fresh air and unfasten constrictive clothing.
• If a toxic substance gets on things, then they must be removed from the poisoned person so that the poison does not penetrate inside.
• In the absence of consciousness and breathing activity, resuscitation measures must be taken.

At a medical facility, doctors prescribe the necessary tests and then therapy. An antidote must be used to neutralize the effect of potassium cyanide. There are several types of drugs that can make such potassium safer.

Kinds:

• glucose,
• sodium thiosulfate,
• medications (nitroglycerin, methylene blue).

Doctors use the remedy that is most suitable in each specific case. If help is provided quickly and on time, then, as a rule, the person can be saved. In case of severe poisoning, the recovery process is quite long.

Prevention and consequences

Potassium cyanide poisoning has a negative effect on the entire human body. In the future, various health problems may arise and chronic diseases may worsen. The most serious consequence is death. However, this can be avoided if you provide help to the person in time.

To avoid intoxication, people involved in the production of potassium cyanide must follow safety precautions. You should not try to obtain potassium yourself at home, the result may be unpredictable.

Potassium cyanide is a substance that poses a serious danger to humans. Knowing how poison works, you should be careful when working with it, and if poisoning occurs, help the person very quickly.

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