RECOGNIZE That Exposure to Cyanide Is Linked to Many Different Sources
Exposure to cyanide (CN) can be accidental or intentional
- Occupational exposure may occur for workers potentially exposed to CN in numerous occupations including mining, metallurgy, photography, extermination, and firefighting12,13
- Because liquid and solid forms of CN are transported by rail and highway, accidental exposures can occur en route to or from industrial facilities14
- CN can be ingested deliberately in the case of a suicide or used as an act of intentional poisoning4,15
- More than 2,650 plant species can produce CN, depending on food preparation and digestion12,14
Hydrogen CN is a widely used industrial chemical, with an estimated demand of 1.8 billion pounds for use in the United States in 2004.14,16
The majority of all hydrogen CN is used as an intermediary in production of materials found in14,17
- Building construction
- Transportation vehicle interiors
- Residential and commercial interiors and furnishings
Materials or products that can produce or release CN during combustion include3,11,13,18:
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Locations of known CN users, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and/or generators.14
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Most every state uses, processes, manufactures, or distributes CN
14
- Of the facilities in the United States, the highest concentrations are in the Northeast and upper Midwest14
- Many heavily populated cities and towns have CN facilities in the vicinity14
CN is any chemical compound that contains the cyano group, which can be found in compounds of gases, solids, or liquids. Those that can release the CN ion, CN-, are highly toxic.
12
Styrofoam is a trademark of the Dow Chemical Company.
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