Other names
HCN, prussic acid, carbon hydride nitride, formic acid nitrile, hydrocyanic acid, formonitrile, cyclon
CAS Number
74-90-8
Properties
- highly flammable, water-soluble liquid
- smells like bitter almonds
- cyanides convert to hydrogen cyanide in human stomachs, in reaction to stomach acid
Main sources
- industrial processes: metal mining, plastics manufacturing (combustion of polymers that contain nitrogen)
- waste management: waste water, exhaust air
- agriculture: pest control
- tobacco smoke
Thresholds for the reporting requirement of facilities in accordance with Annex 2 PRTRO
(Ordinance on the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of Pollutants in Waste Water)
- Air 200 kg/year
- Water -
- Soil -
Impacts
- very toxic, to aquatic organisms as well