B.11A Cyanide Why it Kills On Level – 02
Have you ever heard of a chemical called cyanide? It is an extremely deadly poison that can occur naturally in some plants like almonds and lima beans. It can also be found in apple seeds and peach pits. The amount of cyanide in these plants is very small and does not pose a risk unless they are eaten in large amounts. You are exposed to much more cyanide in cigarette smoke or to chemicals released from burning plastic. Cyanide is mainly used in industrial applications like making paper, plastics, and pesticides. Workers in industries that use cyanide must take safety precautions not to breathe in compounds containing cyanide.
Once inside living organisms, cyanide stops cells from using oxygen. In humans, cyanide affects the heart and the brain most because these two organs use more oxygen compared to other body organs. During World War II, the Nazis used cyanide as an agent of genocide in the gas chambers of concentration camps.
Some organisms like millipedes produce cyanide to use as a defense mechanism. They can secrete a liquid containing cyanide from glands with enough pressure to spray over 25 cm (almost 10 inches) away. It is a form of chemical warfare that causes irritation to anything that decides to make a meal of a millipede.
