Fast Acting Cyanide Poison Antidote

Thought you oyster heads might like to be kept abreast of this recent development:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071227183912.htm

University of Minnesota Center for Drug Design and Minneapolis VA Medical Center researchers have discovered a new fast-acting antidote to cyanide poisoning. The antidote has potential to save lives of those who are exposed to the chemical -- namely firefighters, industrial workers, and victims of terrorist attacks--and Wet Plate Photographers.

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I think the best bet is to practice good craft and not be exposed to cyanide gas, but this may be something to keep in the darkbox when available.

I am not sure, but I believe that the 'old' remedy was hypo. Someone may want to research that, as I usually don't go around worrying about cyanide.

PE

Yes, inhaling amyl nitrate followed by soidum nitrite and sodium thiosulfate served intravenously is the current medical practice.

Having worked a lot with cyanides the best remedy is treat with extreme care. The UK Health & Safety Executive visited our lab and would not allow Amyl Nitrate, or Thiosulphate as antidotes. Evidently Amyl Nitrate usually disappears for illicit purposes, they preferred that we contact our local hospital to ensure they had the necessary supplies to treat cyanide poisoning.

One process was to acidify gold & silver precipitated from Cyanide solutions, this meant having extremely good fume cupboards as it wasn't possible to wash out the last traces of cyanide.

But I once worked with people who would eat sandwiches next to the cyanide plating units they worked with, and no matter what you said they wouldn't stop. You can build up quite a tolerance to cyanide.

Ian

Ian Grant said:

But I once worked with people who would eat sandwiches next to the cyanide plating units they worked with, and no matter what you said they wouldn't stop. You can build up quite a tolerance to cyanide.

Ian

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Many years ago a friend of mine was working in a place like that and he was told about a fellow worker who didn't wash his hands before eating his sandwiches and paid a fatal price. The story might have been true, or it might have been intended as a warning. Either ways, I wouldn't go near the stuff!

Quite right Richard, personally I never eat or drink near cyanide, I also made sure that anyone working for me never did either. (The errant worker mentioned was not under my control, and I had no power to stop him).

Sometimes its necessary to work with Cyanides, and as long as all the safety precautions are taken there is no danger of poisoning. I would stress all precautions because a lapse by one person can endanger others.

Most cases of cyanide poisoning are mild, and cause acute stomach problems, sickness and severe headaches. This is usually caused by inhalation of cyanide solution vapours, slight cyanide ingestion via unwashed hands etc. Severe cyanide poisoning is by ingestion of a more significant quantity, and of course Hydro-Cyanic gas inhalation and potentially fatal.

I still work with cyanides, I recover the Gold from plating solutions to make my Gold toner

Ian