Cyanide (inorganic) compounds: Environmental effects
Description
Cyanides have high acute (short-term) toxicity to aquatic life, birds, and animals. Insufficient data are available to evaluate the acute toxicity of cyanides on plants on land. Cyanides have high chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate the chronic toxicity to plants, birds, or land animals. Cyanides are not expected to bioaccumulate.
Entering the environment
Cyanide compounds will be in the atmosphere as gases or small particles. They will then settle into the soil or water depending upon where the air currents carry them. Most cyanide compounds are water-soluble. These can contaminate ground water. They will evaporate out of the water. In the water cyanides are not persistent, they breakdown in a matter of days.
Where it ends up
Cyanide enters the environment from both natural and human processes. In air it is found mainly as the gas hydrogen cyanide, a small amount is present as fine dust particles. Most cyanide in surface water will form hydrogen cyanide and evaporate. It takes years for cyanide to breakdown from the air.
Environmental guidelines
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters: (ANZECC, 1992):
Maximum of 0.005 mg/L (i.e. 0.00000 g/L)
Key
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