Cyanide- A Silent Killer in Sudden and Unexplained Death
DISHA CHANDRAKAR
Chapter 1 : Introduction
Cyanide is a highly potent and rapidly acting poison that poses lethal risks in various contexts, making it a significant concern in cases of sudden and unexplained death. Cyanide (CN-) is known as a molecular compound for its interaction with cytochrome c oxidase, a critical enzyme in cellular respiration. When cyanide binds to this enzyme, it effectively halts aerobic metabolism, leading to the rapid development of severe lactic acidosis and profound shock. Cyanide is a naturally occurring substance that smells like almonds. A chemical molecule known as cyanide is made up of a cyanide group, which is made up of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom, along with additional components like hydrogen or potassium. This toxin interferes with mitochondrial oxygen use and acts quickly. its frequent use as a suicide agent. Because cyanide inhibits cytochrome-c oxidase-dependent cellular respiration, it becomes lethal quickly after exposure. A naturally occurring substance, cyanide smells like almonds. This innocuous substance can be found in various fruits and plants, such as lima beans, cassava plants, apricots, apples, and peaches. Because cyanide is highly reactive and quickly degraded to produce other chemicals, trace levels of it present in organic materials are not a major problem. High temperatures, however, can cause a significantly higher concentration of hydrogen cyanide to be released from contemporary synthetic materials like plastics, papers, fabrics, and equipment. Since modern synthetic polymers containing nitrogen have become more widely used, the risk of cyanide toxicity has increased in frequency and severity. Because the gaseous form of hydrogen cyanide reacts rapidly when inhaled, it poses a particular risk to people (G Doman, et al.,2022).
