What are the possible harms of cyanide?

Ahmet Adiller, Head of Environmental Health Program at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, has begun discussion about cyanide and its potential harms following a landslide at a gold mine in İliç, Erzincan, and subsequent suspicions of leakage in the region. Dr. Adiller evaluated the issue of cyanide mixing into soil and water.

"Can lead to environmental impacts and public health risks"

Describing cyanide as a rapidly acting chemical with potentially fatal effects, Dr. Ahmet Adiller stated, "Cyanide is an extremely dangerous compound and its release into the environment can lead to significant environmental impacts and public health risks. During extended use, cyanide can potentially mix into soil, water, and even air. Cyanide leaks cause mass fish die-offs, contamination of drinking water sources, and even damage to agricultural land. Some sources claim that cyanide is relatively safe because it breaks down rapidly in surface water even if spilled. However, the compounds into which cyanide breaks down can also be harmful," he said. [caption id="attachment_160553" align="aligncenter"] Dr. Ahmet Adiller[/caption]

"Cyanide leaking into groundwater can also be transported throughout the connected watershed"

"Cyanide in soil can dissolve with rainfall and pass into groundwater and surface water. Through dissolution in this water, it can be transported along streams and rivers throughout the river basin. Additionally, cyanide leaking into groundwater can be transported throughout the watershed to which the groundwater is connected," Dr. Ahmet Adiller continued: "Cyanide leakage into groundwater can persist for long periods and contaminate drinking water sources. Groundwater contaminated with cyanide can also contaminate connected neighboring watercourses. Besides the direct effects of cyanide, there are also indirect effects. When cyanide first enters soil composition, it can cause many minerals in balance within the soil to become reactive. Among these substances are highly toxic and carcinogenic materials such as arsenic. Although cyanide breaks down easily in nature, these substances do not break down quickly in nature and can be transported among environmental elements. Particularly their transport to agricultural land and grazing areas causes these substances to pass into food and increases their degree of impact."