How does cyanide affect living organisms?
A. Cyanide is highly toxic. Cyanide is the killing agent used in gas chambers. Cyanide poisoning can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and skin or eye contact. One teaspoon of a 2% solution can kill a person. In general, fish and other aquatic life are killed by cyanide concentrations in the microgram per liter (part per billion) range, whereas bird and mammal deaths result from cyanide concentrations in the milligram per liter (part per million) range. A cyanide spill in Romania on January 30th, 2000, killed thousands of tons of fish and made a significant portion of the Tisza River watershed undrinkable and hostile to aquatic life. Evidence shows that cyanide compounds linger in affected plant and fish tissues and can persist in the environment for long periods of time.
