Transcript Hydrogen Cyanide Presentation - Wellington County Training

HYDROGEN CYANIDE
THE OTHER SILENT KILLER
COURSE OBJECTIVES
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The goal of this program is to provide the learner
with a thorough understanding of Hydrogen
Cyanide including the following:
 Awareness
and Recognition
 Prevention
 Protection
 Detection
 Diagnosis
& Treatment
COURSE CONTENTS

Chemical Properties
 HCN
and CO – “The Toxic Twins”
 Literature Review
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Case Studies & Research
 Columbia
Fire Department
 Fort Worth, Texas
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Equipment
Response Protocol
Hands-on Training
Would you work here without SCBA?
CHLORINE GAS
…so then why do it here?
Ammonia
Dioxin
Benzopyrine
Formaldehyde
Chloromethane
Oxides of Nitrogen
Carbonyl Fluoride
Benzene
Phosgene
Methane
Ethylene
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Furfural
Sulfur Dioxide
Bromomethane
PCB’s
Hydrogen Sulfide
Alcohols
Hydrogen Cyanide
Acetic Acid
Acrolein
Chemical Properties
Physical Properties and Health Effects of
Hydrogen Cyanide
Properties of HCN
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Hydrogen cyanide is a chemical compound with
chemical formula HCN. It is a colourless, extremely
poisonous liquid that boils slightly above room
temperature at 26 °C (79 °F).
HCN has a faint, bitter, burnt almond-like odour
that only some people are able to detect owing to
a genetic trait. The volatile compound has been
used as inhalation rodenticide and human poison.
Cyanide ions interfere with iron-containing
respiratory enzymes.
Properties of HCN – Exposure Limits
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IDLH – 50ppm (Carbon Monoxide is 1200ppm)
NIOSH REL – 5ppm (Carbon Monoxide is 25ppm)
OSHA PEL – 10ppm
EPA AEGL 3 (Life threatening effects or death)
 10
minutes – 27ppm
 30 minutes – 21ppm
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EPA AEGL 2 (Long lasting effects or impairment)
 10
minutes – 17ppm
 30 minutes – 10 ppm
Properties of HCN
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Extremely poisonous, Extremely flammable
LEL 5.6% - UEL 40%
Vapour Density - 0.93 (slightly lighter than air)
Vapour Pressure – 630mmHg
Molecular Weight = 27.03
Ionization Potential = 13.6eV
Odour Threshold = 0.58ppm*
*Burnt almond odour. Firefighters
will not be able to smell HCN
amongst burning materials. 40% of
the population cannot smell HCN.
Properties of HCN

NIOSH – Physical Dangers
 Hazardous
concentrations may develop quickly in an
enclosed environment or poorly ventilated areas
 Mixes well with air, explosive mixtures are easily
formed
24 times more toxic than Carbon Monoxide
 Magnifies the toxicity of HCN when combined
with CO (“Toxic Twins”)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_cyanide
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Health Effects – Signs & Symptoms
MODERATE EXPOSURE
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Headache
Confusion
Anxiety
Blurred vision
Loss of judgment
Increased respiratory
rate
SERIOUS EXPOSURE
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Dyspnea
Cardiac dysrhthmia
Seizures
Coma
Death
Health Effects
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Potential Symptoms: Asphyxia and death at high
levels, preceded by seizures, coma with abolished
deep reflexes and dilated pupils, paralysis,
weakness, dizziness, numbness, tremor, loss of visual
acuity, headaches, nausea, vomiting, loss of
appetite, weight loss, increased rate and depth of
respiration, or slow and gasping respiration, eye
irritation, rash, chemical burns on skin, enlargement
of the thyroid gland. [NIOSH]
Health Effects
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Long Term Effects/Repeated Exposures
 Respiratory
problems
 Weakness
 Heart
disease
 Heart attack
 Stroke
 Brain damage
 Thyroid cancer
Health Effects
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Workers exposed to concentrations of 4-12ppm
periodically over a period of 7 years showed an
increase in symptoms of headache, weakness,
irritation of throat, change in taste and smells, and
nervous instability [ACGIH 1991]
Workers exposed to low concentrations of
Hydrogen Cyanide have developed enlarged
thyroid glands [NLM 1995]
Health Effects – Signs & Symptoms
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“Exposure to smaller concentrations can initially cause
respiratory activation (manifested by rapid breathing and
tachycardia) in an attempt to compensate for lack of oxygen.
Early manifestations include headache, anxiety, blurry vision,
and loss of judgment. As cyanide accumulates further, signs
and symptoms of poisoning reflect the effects of oxygen
deprivation on the heart and brain. These include cardiac
dysrhythmias, seizure, coma, and death.”
“The time between exposure and incapacitation or death is
typically minutes, but varies depending on the concentration of
cyanide and other toxicants.”

O’Brien, DJ, Walsh, DW, Cyanide and Smoke Inhalation, 2010
HCN – Reference Materials
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UN 1051, Class 6 (Subclass 3)
ERG Guide #117 – “Gases – Toxic – Flammable
(Extreme Hazard) (Initial Isolation Zone of 60M for
a small release)
NIOSH Pocket Guide Page #168
NFPA 704 – Health 4, Flammability 4, Reactivity 2
Case Studies and Research
Let’s look at some of the current studies and stats
regarding HCN
Cyanide Poisoning of Providence RI
Firefighters
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March 23rd 2006
Firefighter Kenneth Baker was confirmed to have cyanide
poisoning due to a fire call
He suffered a heart attack and died at a structure fire
later that same shift
As a result, all FF’s who were at the first call were tested
8 of 27 firefighters tested had high levels of HCN in their
systems
CLICK HERE FOR PROVIDENCE REPORT
- review pages 2 & 3 of the report
Thyroid Testing – During Physicals

Largo (FL) Fire Rescue Ultra Sound
8
employees with thyroid nodules, 2 resulted in cancer
and 1 yet to be determined
 1 aneurysm
 1 70% blocked carotid arteries
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Las Vegas Fire Department
8
thyroid cancers
 3 brain cancers
Columbia Fire Department Study
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Eight month study monitoring CO and HCN at fire calls
(approximately 40 structure fires)
Found staggering results with extremely high HCN levels at calls
Found no correlation between CO and HCN production
Worst offenders for HCN production were:
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“Pot on a stove”/cooking fires (average small kitchen fire produces
75ppm of HCN)
Car fires
Dumpster fires
Overhaul operations
Fort Worth Texas Test Burns
Conducted “open-air” burn study to capture HCN
levels off of different materials
 Significant levels obtained in an “open-air”
environment
 Highest levels were recorded at incipient stages of
fire production and during smoldering periods
 This study confirmed what was being readily
assumed about HCN levels in air during fires
CLICK HERE FOR THE FORT WORTH STUDY
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Prevention, Protection & Detection
Let’s look at how we can protect ourselves from
HCN exposure
Prevention and Protection
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Most important prevention tool is AWARENESS – we
need to be educated on HCN
Recognizing Signs & Symptoms of exposure
PPE (use & cleaning)
Monitoring for HCN
Establishing action levels
Reporting levels and exposures
Decontamination procedures
HCN Standard Operating Guideline (CLICK HERE
FOR DRAFT SOG) – PLEASE REVIEW
Detection
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Sensit P100 Single Gas
HCN detector
Located on secondary
vehicles
To be used at all fire
related calls
Can be used to monitor
the atmosphere at
incidents as well as
readings off of PPE
Operational Implementation
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HCN air monitoring shall be conducted at all fire
occurrences and will help determine:
Scene perimeter and the locations of rehab, accountability,
other agencies, etc. (extremely valuable tool for the ISO)
 The need for “on scene” gear decontamination and/or
replacement (worst offenders for HCN retention are
balaclavas and helmet ear flaps)
 The severity of smoke inhalation cases for firefighters and
civilians (signs and symptoms)
 When we can operate off-air at an occurrence (action
levels)
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LETS DISCUSS EACH OF THESE POINTS IN DETAIL
Review
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HCN is more dangerous than Carbon Monoxide
The IDLH of CO is 1200 ppm, while the IDLH of HCN is
50 ppm
Low CO levels present a false security to the presence
of HCN
HCN has a short half-life, this can make it difficult to
fully diagnose the level of exposure
Early detection is imperative to the safety of personnel
HCN symptoms in lower level exposures are similar to
heat related illness and CO poisoning
Review cont…..
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HCN symptoms in severe or acute cases mirror that
of a heart attack
More firefighter and civilian deaths are being
linked to HCN poisoning
Poor firefighter PPE usage leads to increased
exposure of HCN and CO
Wear your SCBA at all fire calls
PROTECT YOURSELF!
Additional Resources & Info
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AFTERMATH VIDEO - CLICK HERE TO WATCH
 Very
informative video about HCN exposure, repsonse
and treatment
 37 minutes long
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“Smoke”, Dr. David Penney – CLICK HERE TO READ
“Cyanide and Modern Fires”, EMD Serano
Pharmaceuticals – CLICK HERE TO READ
Additional Resources & Info
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www.firesmoke.org
 Great
resource for HCN and smoke related material
 Articles
 Research
studies
 Etc.
 Login
to access all the available information
 Username:
[email protected]
 Password: firefighter
Final thought…..
How many of us have been
somewhere like this?
38 PPM of
HCN!
-Actual incident photo and monitoring
results from Columbia FD Study