Cyanide Research Paper

What has been brought to light in recent years is the effects of these chemicals on the body’s immune response. By introducing these toxic chemicals into the body, the potency of the immune system is compromised. More commonly than not, the body’s magnificent defense system will kick in and destroy foreign invaders but all it can take is an overwhelming amount of chemicals to slow or even shut down the body’s response systems. A large amount of these types of chemicals introduced into the body at one time would be considered acute toxicity and could even cause death. Additionally, a small amount of these poisonous substances brought into the body over a long period would be considered chronic toxicity and can have detrimental effects on the body’s natural response (Hoernschemeyer 55-57). This information is startling enough to want to make a change from conventionally grown food to pesticide-free organic

color it caused its victims, not for the true effects that these agents have on the oxygen in the

In the gas chamber, cyanide deprives the body’s cells of oxygen, thereby killing the organs, states allowing it- Arizona, California, Missouri, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.

"Naval personal who were exposed to mustard gas were later found to have toxic changes in their bone marrow cells which develop into red blood cells."(American Cancer Society) "Doctors sometimes brush off chemotherapy's side effects as a small price to pay for increased survival. But chemotherapy came out of World War II mustard gas experiments and it remains poison." (Spring 10).

Was there no forethought in the decision to use these chemicals? Killing off the food supply for the country you are there to

The specific agent that I learned about and would like to discuss is the nerve agent Sarin. Sarin is a liquid that can be easily converted to a gas, as well as no color or odor, which makes it difficult to detect (Presse, 2015). Victims of a Sarin gas attack most often die from asphyxiation and those who do not die often have permanent nerve damage. Very small amounts of Sarin and be fatal with death occurring in as little time as one minute. Used as a chemical weapon the agent would typically be deployed encased in an artillery shell or dropped in a bomb. When inhaled the agent interferes with the neurotransmitters in the body and typically causes the victim to lose the ability to control their muscles, including those, which control the lungs (Preese, 2015).

Sarin gas has been used as a weapon because it is considered a volatile dangerous never agent. It can quickly kill and or incapacitate people in a general area. It vapor is colorless and odorless, it liquid can be absorbed through the skin. This was one of many nerve agents developed by the Nazis during World War II to give them a fighting edge over their enemy. Chemical warfare contain irritants, asphyxiants, contaminants and poisons that were made as weapons, they can cause death, loss of performance and permanent injury to people animals and even plants.

Chlorine is the 17th element on the periodic table, and at -34 degrees Celsius and above it becomes a yellow gas that is fatal to humans. The use of chlorine gas as a poison on the battlefield came quickly after the start of World War One. It’s has been heavily influenced by politics, and sometime politics fails to limit harmful uses. To this day weapons grade chlorine gas is stockpiled and occasionally used despite multiple United Nations (UN) restrictions and international agreements. A political solution is needed to keep chlorine for only beneficial uses.

2 At a severe high dose, as with any organophosphate, it can cause convulsions, respiratory paralysis, and even death.

There are many types of chemical agents that can be used for a variety of effects. Most are not meant to be lethal, but most chemicals at high concentrations can be lethal.

The severity of reaction depends on the range of toxicity and dosage released. The most well known military nerve agents are tabun, sarin, soman, GF, and VX. All of these are manmade compounds.

On the topic of stereo-typical poisons like back in the day. The blood toxin Cyanide is still used today. “Signs and symptoms of

Cyanide poisoning is caused by exposure to compounds that produce cyanide(CN−) ions. The cyanide ions interfere with cellular respiration and you can guess the rest.

Medical effects of soman are typical of nerve agents, and likewise varies depending on the extent of exposure. Specifically, GD is more volatile than VX, but less volatile than sarin (CDC 2013). While the severity and timeliness of symptoms depend on the exposure, the symptoms include: change in blood pressure, blurred vision, chest tightness, drowsiness and confusion, cough, diarrhea, excessive drool and sweating, eye pain, headache, accelerated breathing patterns, nasal and optical discharge, and weakness (amongst others) (CDC 2013). Exposure requires immediate medical treatment. Lower to mild levels of exposure are generally treatable, whereas severe exposure levels are likely to induce death. Exposure can be the result of inhalation, cutaneous contact, and ingestion.

People can protect themselves from cyanide. The first way is by leaving the area that cyanide was released, and going outdoors to a place with cleaner air. If it is released outdoors and the person can not leave the area, the person must stay as low to the ground as possible. This is because cyanide is less dense than the air, causing it to go upwards in the atmosphere. If it is released indoors, leave the building. All these instructions are from the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (2013). Cyanide does have the antidote Sodium Nitrite according to field (2008). The best way to avoid it is to be educated on where cyanide is found.