Cyanide is commonly used in gold processing but is also used in electroplating, metal cleaning and manufacture of textiles. It can be present as a solid crystal, a liquid, or a colourless gas.
Signs and symptoms of cyanide exposure
Exposure to cyanide can occur by inhalation, skin contact or ingestion. Smell is not a reliable indicator of cyanide presence as approximately only 60 per cent of people can smell it.
The effects of exposure to cyanide occur rapidly. Within seconds to minutes, the individual can experience:
- facial flushing
- headache, nausea, vomiting
- difficulty breathing (rapid breathing)
- feeling faint or dizzy
- confusion.
Symptoms may be delayed if there is skin contact with cyanide gas or solution, as cyanide uptake from skin absorption occurs at a slower rate than inhalation. Also, skin or mucosal (e.g. lining of nose, mouth, lungs or stomach) contact with cyanide solution can cause itching, discolouration and corrosion due to the alkalinity.