Cyanide, found in plants, bacteria, and fungi, can be lethal in high concentrations but is used in safe doses for cancer treatment. Cooking removes most harmful aspects, but hydrocyanic acid in cigarette smoke and burned materials can cause suffocation. Some chemicals turn into cyanide when ingested, but most have been removed from the market.
Cyanide is a potentially toxic substance that, in high concentrations, works to prevent the body’s cells from receiving adequate amounts of oxygen. This makes poisoning potentially lethal. Cyanic glucoside, the name for naturally occurring cyanide, is present in many plants, bacteria and fungi. Various chemical reactions can also produce types of the substance. In safe doses, this substance can be used with positive results. For example, in some countries it is used as a drug for the treatment of cancer.
The presence of natural cyanide in plants is thought to be an evolutionary protective device. For example, if an animal becomes ill after eating such a plant, it is likely that the animal will no longer eat the plant, ensuring the survival of the particular plant species. There are more than 1,000 different plants that contain cyanic glucoside, including elements widely used in the human diet. Some of these include green beans, apple seeds and bamboo shoots.
Most of the diseases related to this substance are not caused by plants. Most of the harmful aspects of this chemical are no longer present once the plant or food has been cooked. If the disease occurs due to the ingestion of foods containing cyanic glucoside, it is usually very mild and not life-threatening at all. This is because small amounts of cyanic glucoside are broken down by the body’s cells and passed through the urine.
Hydrocyanic acid is created by various chemical methods where oxygen is removed or not made available. Cigarette smoke contains this chemical, as do some plastics and other materials when burned. Photography and the metalworking process can also release this chemical. Breathing in high levels of this substance can cause suffocation and even death, as the body is no longer able to process and use the incoming oxygen. Immediate medical attention is crucial at this point.
Some chemicals react with the human body in such a way that they actually turn into cyanide when ingested. Most of these chemicals have been removed from the market, but some are still available. Some products potentially containing these chemicals include nail polish remover, some solvents, and solutions used in the plastic manufacturing process. Insecticides often contained cyanide at once. However, as research has begun to show more risks associated with this chemical, most companies have removed it from their formulations.
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