Carbon Monoxide Headquarters
Other Nasty gases, Dr. D. Penney





Hydrogen Cyanide

Use, Caution, Symptomatology, Exposure Limits:

  • Use - Exterminant, chemical warfare

  • Caution - Extremely lethal poison! ...... should only be handled by experts. May contribute to the lethality of other poisons, eg. carbon monoxide. Generated in fires involving plastics, etc.

  • Symptoms - Initially headache, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. At higher concentrations tachypnea, then dyspnea, paralysis, unconsciousness, convulsions and respiratory arrest

  • Chronic exposure - Causes fatigue and weakness

  • Exposure Limits - ACGIH TLV: STEL = 4.7 ppm on skin. OSHA PEL: TWA = 10 ppm, STEL = 4.7 ppm on skin


    ACGIH = American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
    OSHA = U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    TWA = time weighted average
    STEL = short-term exposure limit
    TLV = threshold limit value
    PEL = permissible exposure level




    ...... last changed 05/22/00


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