Intoxication by cyanide in fires: a study in monkeys using polyacrylonitrile
It is suspected that hydrogen cyanide (HCN) may be an important factor in incapacitating fire victims, but the effects of sublethal exposures are not well characterized. Also, the incapacitating effects of fire atmospheres result from exposure to a mixture of toxic products so that the contribution from each component is difficult to determine. The mechanisms of incapacitation in monkeys exposed to the pyrolysis products of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were compared to those resulting from low level HCN gas exposures. The physiological effects of the PAN atmospheres were almost identical to those of HCN gas alone. They consisted of hyperventilation, followed by loss of consciousness after 1-5 min, bradycardia with arrhythmias and T-wave abnormalities, and were followed by a rapid recovery after exposure. Hydrogen cyanide is considered to be the major toxic product formed by the pyrolysis of PAN. It is suggested that HCN may produce rapid incapacitation at low blood levels of cyanide in fires, while death may occur later due to carbon monoxide poisoning or other factors.
- Research Organization:
- Huntingdon Research Center Place, England
- OSTI ID:
- 5552112
- Journal Information:
- Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Vol. 39:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
HYDROCYANIC ACID
TOXICITY
MONKEYS
INJURIES
NITRILES
PYROLYSIS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FIRES
ANIMALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CYANIDES
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
MAMMALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
PRIMATES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)