10 Strategies to Increase Student Reading Comprehension

The Chemistry of Cyanide Poisoning and Why it Kills

Murder mysteries and spy novels often feature cyanide as a fast-acting poison, but you can be exposed to this toxin from everyday chemicals and even common foods. Have you ever wondered how cyanide poisons and kills people, how much it takes before its toxic and whether there is a cure? Heres what you need to know. What Is Cyanide? The term cyanide refers to any chemical containing a carbon-nitrogen (CN) bond. Many substances contain cyanide, but not all of them are deadly poisons. Sodium cyanide (NaCN), potassium cyanide (KCN), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and cyanogen chloride (CNCl) are lethal, but thousands of compounds called nitriles contain the cyanide group yet arent as toxic. In fact, you can find cyanide in nitriles used as pharmaceuticals, such as  citalopram (Celexa) and  cimetidine (Tagamet). Nitriles arent as dangerous because they dont readily release the CN- ion, which is the group that acts as a metabolic poison. How Cyanide Poisons In a nutshell, cyanide prevents cells from using oxygen to make energy molecules. The cyanide ion, CN-, binds to the iron atom in cytochrome C oxidase in the mitochondria of cells. It acts as an irreversible enzyme inhibitor, preventing cytochrome C oxidase from doing its job, which is to transport electrons to oxygen in the electron transport chain of aerobic cellular respiration. Without the ability to use oxygen, mitochondria cant produce the energy carrier adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Tissues that require this form of energy, such as heart muscle cells and nerve cells, quickly expend all their energy and start to die. When a large enough number of critical cells die, you die. Exposure to Cyanide Cyanide can be used as a poison or chemical warfare agent, but most people are exposed to it unintentionally. Some ways to be exposed to cyanide include: Eating  cassava, lima beans, yucca, bamboo shoots, sorghum,  or almondsEating apple seeds, cherry stones, apricot pits, or peach pitsSmoking cigarettesBurning plasticBurning coalInhaling smoke from a house fireIngesting  acetonitrile-based products are used to remove artificial nailsDrinking water, eating food, touching soil, or inhaling air that has been contaminatedExposure to rodenticide or other cyanide-containing pesticides Cyanide in fruits and vegetables is in the form of cyanogenic glycosides (cyanoglycosides). Sugars attach to these compounds through the process of glycosylation, forming free hydrogen cyanide. Many industrial processes involve compounds that contain cyanide or can react with water or air to produce it. Paper, textile, photochemical, plastics, mining, and metallurgy industries all may deal with cyanide. Some people report an odor of bitter almonds associated with cyanide, but not all toxic compounds produce the scent and not all people can smell it. Cyanide gas is less dense than air, so it will rise. Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning Inhaling a high dose of cyanide gas rapidly causes unconsciousness and often death. Lower doses may be survivable, especially if immediate aid is provided. The symptoms of cyanide poisoning are similar to those displayed by other conditions or exposure to any of a number of chemicals, so dont assume cyanide is the cause. In any event, do remove yourself from the cause of exposure and seek immediate medical attention. Immediate Symptoms HeadacheDizzinessWeaknessConfusionFatigueLack of coordination Symptoms From Larger Doses or Longer Exposure Low blood pressureUnconsciousnessConvulsionsSlow heart rateLung damageRespiratory failureComa Death from poisoning usually results from respiratory or heart failure. A person exposed to cyanide may have cherry-red skin from high oxygen levels or dark or blue coloring, from Prussian blue (iron-binding to the cyanide ion). Also, skin and body fluids may give off an odor of almonds. How Much Cyanide Is Lethal? How much cyanide is too much depends on the route of exposure, the dose, and duration of exposure? Inhaled cyanide presents a greater risk than ingested cyanide. Skin contact is not as much of a concern (unless the cyanide has been mixed with DMSO), except touching the compound could lead to accidentally swallowing some of it. As a rough estimate, since lethal dose depends on the exact compound and several other factors, about half a gram of ingested cyanide will kill a 160-pound  adult. Unconsciousness, followed by death, could occur within several seconds of inhaling a high dose of cyanide, but lower doses and ingested cyanide may allow a few hours to a couple of days for treatment. Emergency medical attention is critical. Is there a Treatment for Cyanide Poisoning? Because its a relatively common toxin in the environment, the body can detoxify a small amount of cyanide. For example, you can eat the seeds of an apple or withstand cyanide from cigarette smoke without dying. When cyanide is used as a poison or a chemical weapon, treatment depends on the dose. A high dose of inhaled cyanide is lethal too quickly for any treatment to take effect. Initial first aid for inhaled cyanide requires getting the victim to fresh air. Ingested cyanide or lower doses of inhaled cyanide may be countered by administering antidotes that detoxify cyanide or bind to it. For example, natural vitamin B12,  hydroxocobalamin, reacts with cyanide to form  cyanocobalamin, which is excreted in urine. Inhalation of amyl nitrite may aid breathing in victims of cyanide and also carbon monoxide poisoning, although few first aid kits contain these ampules anymore. Depending on the conditions, complete recovery may be possible, although paralysis, liver damage, kidney damage, and hypothyroidism are possible.

Hopes and the Loses of the Grapes of Wrath - 553 Words

In John Steinbeck’s novel, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ he stated that the theme; Hope and Loss of Hope was shown several times throughout the novel. As much lost the Joad family experienced, the family still had to hold tight on hope because it was basically all they did had left since there was neither money nor happiness. The Grapes of Wrath was focused around the Joads, a family going through the Great Depression hardships during the 1930s. Many families had majorly downsized their lifestyles; the way they bought their food, supported themselves, and the fathers had to leave to search for work. When living in Oklahoma; the setting for the novel, The Dust Bowl was a disaster to the crops, which meant it was a decrease in the profits for some individuals, or their only option of food and money was gone. The quotation, â€Å"So you’re lookin for work? What ya think ever’body else is lookin for? Di’amonds?†(Steinbeck 312). didn’t mean for disrespect for anybody but portrayed the anger and frustration of the struggling, starving workers who were fed up being shot down but they still had hope. Steinbeck wanted to show that the selfish ones who were fortunate had the strength and the will power to aid the ones who couldn’t support themselves but they didn’t use their luck for advantage, they just thought about money over others. The quote, â€Å"Well, s’pose them people get together an says ‘Let em rot!’ Wouldn’t be long ‘fore the price went, God!† (Steinbeck 315).Show MoreRelatedThe Grapes of Wrath: The Role of Ma Joad1252 Words   |  6 PagesThrough the roughest times in life, we come across crises that reveal the true character in those around us. Those who are strong are divided from the weak and the followers divide from the leaders. 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Steinbeck s work is influenced byRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath And The Sun Also Rises1378 Words   |  6 Pages The Rich and Poor in The Grapes of Wrath and the Sun Also Rises The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, follows the migration of people to California during the Dust Bowl, which took place in the 1930s. The lack of rainfall made it difficult for farmers to grow produce and ultimately put everyone out of work. The Joads are one of the many families that packed up as many belongings as they possibly could and headed West in the search of work. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest HemingwayRead MoreGrapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1397 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican education system, they will, without fail, read at least two books by California writer and possible communist, John Steinbeck. The longer, sadder and more proletarian book, Grapes of Wrath, tells the tale of the great migration of Midwestern farmers traveling to California during the 1930s. 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Organizing Multiple Task DM Office

Question: Write about theOrganizing Multiple Taskfor DM Office. Answer: Prioritization of Tasks: I receive a request from the DM to organize a meeting with 4 other deputy ministers for a conference call regarding the spring flood watch within the next two days. I need to follow up with the ADM as the transitional or organizational binder (approx. 150 pages) is overdue. I need to verify the completeness of the transitional or organizational binders (approx. 150 pages) and distribute to Executive I am asked to organize a cross government meeting (approx 5 ministers) for an upcoming Shakeout BC event taking place n two months I am asked to remind staff to in the DM office to complete their My Performance updates they need to be completed by the end of the month I am asked to help consolidate or update succession planning documents for the organization I am asked to prepare binders for the hiring panel (3 people) for a new Executive Director and the interview is scheduled to take place in two weeks. I receive a request from the DM too post the Strategic Plan and Business Plan on the DMO Share Point site so that Executive can overview I am asked to track changes, make updates and distribute 30/60/90 days document associated with the interregnum period and Quarterly Fiscal year end updates too Executive I am asked to provide DMs availability to attend Emergency Preparedness events that are scheduled to occur in two months Justification: I receive a request from the DM to organize a meeting with 4 other deputy ministers for a conference call regarding the spring flood watch within the next two days. As per my views, this task should be handled in top most priority. Though the other tasks are equally important, I personally believe that we all are deployed to work for the civic welfare. Hence, checking the wrath of the spring flood and taking necessary measures should be the most prioritized work. Since the other deputy ministers are not always available for their busy schedules, they need to be informed prior to the meeting so that they get time to manage it according to their own priority basis. In order to call for the emergency services for the spring flood, the ministers need assemble and take needful measures. Moreover, contacting the deputy ministers is a time taking tasks because of their lack of availability. If I am asked to contact them and make them gather for a meeting, I need to convince them for the direness of the meeting so that they can manage their own time and attend the meeting. However, I, along with the team need to chalk out the plan for the selection of t he invitee deputy ministers. Since this work seems to be time taking and the issue of it is much more associated with the public welfare, it needs to be dealt with top priority. Though the other works assigned to me are equally important, the choice of selection needs to be specific and insightful. Taking follow up or verification of the organizational binders can be given less importance than the first one. The third task according to the priority list is the checking of the completeness of the transitional or organizational binders. This is followed by the decision of inviting the personnel for cross government meeting pertaining to the issues of Shakeout BC event. The events are no doubt necessary in order to perform effective government duties. Consolidation of the workers and the other employees has been the major working method however this has the priority not on the basis of top priority list.