WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
Chemical warfare agents
Fact Sheet 11: Blood Gas Hydrogen Cyanide
Description:
Hydrogen cyanide is usually included among the CW agents causing general poisoning. It has been reported that hydrogen cyanide was used in the Iran-Iraq war, against the Kurds during the 1980's. Hydrogen cyanide has high toxicity and in sufficient concentrations it rapidly leads to death. During the Second World War, a form of hydrogen cyanide (Zyklon B) was used in the Nazi gas chambers. At room temperature, hydrogen cyanide is a colourless liquid which boils at 26 oC. Its high volatility probably makes hydrogen cyanide difficult to use in warfare since there are problems in achieving sufficiently high concentrations outdoors. On the other hand, the concentration of hydrogen cyanide may rapidly reach lethal levels if it is released in confined spaces.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment