A truck transporting Sodium Cyanide overturned Kambembe area of Rironi in Kiambu County, causing spillage of containers with the extremely toxic chemical. However, some bystanders rushed to the scene and got away with containers, without awareness of the harmful health and environmental effects of the substance.
Government officials urged residents who may have taken the containers to return them, citing the adverse effects of the content.
Also, the US Embassy in Kenya issued a travel alert directing its citizens to avoid a section of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, from Westlands to the Junction to Narok.
What is Sodium Cyanide?
Sodium Cyanide is a white crystalline solid or granular powder. It decomposes in contact with water, salts, acids, or moisture. In its aqueous state, Sodium Cyanide has an almond-like odor, but many people cannot detect the odor.
The compound itself is non-combustible. However, it produces a highly flammable hydrogen cyanide gas upon contact with water or acids.
Sodium Cyanide is used commercially for electroplating, fumigation, chemical manufacturing, and silver and gold extraction.
Health Effects
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that sodium cyanide can affect the human body through inhalation, ingestion, eye contact, or skin contact. Early manifestations of cyanide poisoning include nausea, lightheadedness, vomiting, rapid breathing, suffocation, and restlessness. Rapid breathing precedes respiratory depression.
In severe cyanide poisonings, victims develop muscle spasms, convulsions, dilated and fixed pupils, low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, coma, and death.
Survivors of severe cyanide poisoning may suffer brain damage as a result of the compound’s effect on nerve cells. The brain damage leads to neurological effects such as abnormalities in movement and memory loss.
Environmental Effects
Run-off water with the toxic sodium cyanide can pollute water sources.
Cyanide-containing water sources are hazardous to local communities and wildlife. Accidental spillage of the sodium cyanide is detrimental to the aquatic life.
Sodium cyanide intoxication has been reported in mammals and birds exposed to the toxic compound through inhalation or ingestion.
