Hygiene and Toxicology Assignment
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Added on 2019-11-12
Hygiene and Toxicology Assignment
Added on 2019-11-12
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Running head: HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGYHygiene and toxicologyName of the StudentName of the UniversityAuthor Note
1HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGYExecutive summaryToxicology is a branch of science that analyses relationship between a chemical and its adverse effects.Hydrogen cyanide is a colourless gas that is fast acting and potentially deadly. It is extremely dangerousto human beings irrespective of the exposure route. It binds to cytochrome oxidase and disrupts theelectron transport system. Thus, cellular respiration gets inhibited. Oxygen unavailability in the tissuesleads to asphyxia, incapacitation and death. Most common symptoms include vertigo, headache,tachypnea, vomiting, and nausea, lack of motor coordination, convulsions and low pulse rate. Respiratoryrate gets increased followed by collapse and arrest. 10ppm has been set as the exposure limit to hydrogencyanide at the workplace by OSHA.This report will illustrate the toxicity of HCN by discussing thedifferent routes of exposure and the common symptoms. The report will also elaborate the standard codesof practice that one needs to follow to avoid cyanide exposure. It will further shed light on thetoxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of HCN.
2HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGYTable of Contents1.Introduction.........................................................................................................................................32.Discussion...........................................................................................................................................3a.Sources of exposure.........................................................................................................................3b.Health effects from exposure...........................................................................................................4c.Standards and codes of practice.......................................................................................................5d.Exposure standards..........................................................................................................................6e.Toxicokinetics.................................................................................................................................7f.Toxicodynamics...............................................................................................................................83.Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................9References.................................................................................................................................................10
3HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY1.IntroductionToxicology refers to the science of poisons. The history of toxicology dates back to the time of cavedwellers. They recognized poisonous animals and plants extracts for warfare and hunting. This branch ofscience overlaps with chemistry, biology, medicine and nursing. It analyses the relationship between achemical dose and its adverse effects on a particular organism. Any substance that exhibits immediateadverse effects is termed as a toxin. These toxins can be systemic (affecting the entire body) or organspecific. These toxins can be chemical agents (cyanide), physical agents (radiations) and biological agents(snake venom). Hydrogen cyanide is a potentially deadly and fast acting chemical that prevents oxygenutilization in the body cells. Hydrogen cyanide exists in the form of a colourless gas. Its most toxic effectis the inhibition of enzymes, which contain metals. This report aims to illustrate the different sources ofcyanide exposure, the adverse health effects, toxico-kinetics and toxico-dynamics of HCN poisoning.2.Discussiona.Sources of exposureHydrogen cyanide mainly affects cellular metabolism. It inhibits aerobic metabolism by acting oncytochrome oxidase. The enzyme is a terminal component of the respiratory chain. Hydrogen cyanide isreadily absorbed by the human body through the lungs, mucous membrane and skin. Exposure of anybody part to HCN results in acute intoxication. Occupational exposures occur due to inhalation, skinabsorption or oral routes. 1)Inhalation- Following inhalation, HCN gets rapidly and readily absorbed by the lungs. Thesymptoms of cyanide poisoning begin a few seconds after the exposure and can cause death in theaffected person within a few minutes. Dust particles that contain cyanide components if inhaledproduce toxicity in the body. HCN acts as a lung irritant and creates localized damage in thelungs. This damage manifests in the form of dryness, pulmonary congestion and burning
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