PAN Pesticides Database - Chemicals
Home > Chemical Search
Help | Feedback  

Cyanide ion - Identification, toxicity, use, water pollution potential, ecological toxicity and regulatory information

Note: See Working with the Information on this Page section below for important notes about this data.

This database and website are updated and enhanced by Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA). The project is made possible by our Sponsors and by PANNA general funds. We need your support to maintain and improve this system. Please support the database and website — donate to PANNA.

Chemical ID
 Identifying information, including synonyms, ID numbers, use type, chemical classification, a link to a list of all products containing this chemical and a list of the top crops this pesticide is used on in California.
Poisoning Symptoms
 Signs and symptoms of poisoning, first aid, and links to treatment information for this chemical.
Toxicity
 Link to information on toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity.
Regulatory
 Links to world-wide registration status as well as regulatory information for the U.S. and California.
Water
 Water quality standards and physical properties affecting water contamination potential.
Ecotoxicity
 Toxicity to aquatic organisms.
Related Chems
 List of chemicals in the same family, including breakdown products, salts, esters, isomers, and other derivatives.
 

Chemical Identification and Use for Cyanide ion
Basic Identification Information About This Chemical
Chemical Name: Cyanide ion
CAS Number: 57-12-5
U.S. EPA PC Code:
CA DPR Chem Code:
Molecular Weight: 49.01
Use Type: Breakdown product
Chem Class: Inorganic
View Related Chemicals
 
Additional Resources About This Chemical Class and Use Type

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.
 
Other Names for this Chemical
About Chemical Synonyms
57-12-5 (CAS number) , 57125 (CAS number without hyphens) , CN- , Cyanide , Cyanide , Cyanide ion , Cyanide ion , Cyanideion , Cyanides, inorganic
 
Products Containing This Chemical
Current and historic U.S. registered products
View U.S. Products All Products Currently Registered Products
 

Signs and Symptoms of Cyanide ion Poisoning

NOTE! There may be other diseases and chemicals that have similar symptoms.

If you have a poisoning emergency in the United States call 1-800-222-1222.
If the victim has collapsed or is unconscious, call 911.

Sorry! No symptoms for this chemical or chemical group are available. See related chemicals for possible additional information.
 
 

Toxicity Information for Cyanide ion

  Note: Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on humans. Why?

Summary Toxicity Information

PAN Bad Actor
Chemical 1 		Acute
Toxicity 2 		Carcinogen Cholinesterase
Inhibitor 		Ground
Water Contaminant 		Developmental or
Reproductive Toxin 		Endocrine
Disruptor
Not Listed
No
 
Indicates high toxicity in the given toxicological category. Indicates no available weight-of-the-evidence summary assessment. For additional information on toxicity from scientific journals or registration documents, see the "Additional Resources for Toxicity " section of the chemical detail page.
1. PAN Bad Actors are chemicals that are one or more of the following: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant. NOTE! Because there are no authoritative lists of Endocrine Disrupting (ED) chemicals, EDs are not yet considered PAN Bad Actor chemicals.
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.

Additional Resources about the Toxicity of this Chemical

See the Global Pesticide Resources page for many additional links.

Detailed Toxicity Information
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Acute Toxicity 2
 Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
WHO Acute Hazard
TRI Acute Hazard
Material Safety Data Sheets
Acute rating from U.S. EPA product label
U.S. NTP Acute Toxicity Studies
      View Studies
Cholinesterase Inhibitor		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Available
No Consensus Value
No NTP Studies

No 		Ib, Highly Hazardous
Not Listed
Not Available
Highly Toxic
Highly Toxic

No
2. The acute toxicity reported on this page is of the pure chemical ingredient only and may not reflect the acute toxicity of individual pesticide products. To view acute toxicity of individual products, click on 'View Products' link in the 'Chemical Identification' section above.
 
Cancer Information
 Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
IARC Carcinogens
U.S. NTP Carcinogens
California Prop 65 Known Carcinogens
U.S. EPA Carcinogens
TRI Carcinogen		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Endocrine Disruption
 Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
Illinois EPA list
Keith list
Colborn list
Benbrook list
Danish Inert list
EU list		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity
 Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
CA Prop 65 Developmental Toxin
U.S. TRI Developmental Toxin
CA Prop 65 Female Reproductive Toxin
CA Prop 65 Male Reproductive Toxin
U.S. TRI Reproductive Toxin 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed 		Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 
Chemicals of Special Concern
 Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
PAN Bad Actors
PAN Dirty Dozen list		 Not Listed
Not Listed		 Yes
Not Listed
 

Water Pollution Potential and Criteria for Cyanide ion

Water Pollution Potential

This Chemical
Parent Chemical
  Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
PAN Ground Water Contaminant Rating Insufficient Data Insufficient Data
 

Water Standards and Criteria
This Chemical
Parent Chemical
Canada Drinking Water Standards and Criteria
 µg/L unless noted  
Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) 200.0
Interim Maximum Acceptable Concentration (IMAC)
Aesthetic Objectives
U.S. National Water Quality Criteria
 µg/L unless noted  
  Cyanide ion Sodium cyanide
Fresh Water Quality Criteria Continuous Exposure 5.20 Notes: k,q  
Fresh Water Quality Criteria Maximum Peak 22.0 Notes: k,q  
Salt Water Quality Criteria Continuous Exposure 1.00 Notes: q,bb
Salt Water Quality Criteria Max 1.00 Notes: q,bb
Human Consumption of Organisms from Water Source 140.0 Notes: jj
Human Consumption of Water and Organisms from Water Source 140.0 Notes: jj
Taste and Odor Criteria
WHO Water Quality Criteria
Concentration (μg/l unless otherwise noted) 70.0
Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life
 µg/L unless noted  
Fresh Water Guidelines 5 (as free C
Salt Water Guidelines
 

Regulatory Information for Cyanide ion

International Regulatory Status
This Chemical
Parent Chemical 
Registration in Selected Countries Registration in Selected Countries:
Cyanide ion
 Registration for Selected Countries:
Sodium cyanide
 
UNEP Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)
UNEP Prior Informed Consent Chemical (PIC)
WHO Obsolete Pesticide		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed		 Not Listed
Not Listed
Not Listed
 

U.S. and California Regulatory Status
U.S. EPA Registered
U.S. EPA Hazardous Air Pollutant
U.S. EPA Minimum Risk Pesticide (25b list)

CA Registered
CA Groundwater Contaminant
CA Toxic Air Contaminant 		No
Not Listed
No

No
Not Listed
Not Listed 		Yes
Yes
No

Yes
Not Listed
HAPTAC, Pesti
 

Maximum Tolerance and Residue Levels
Codex Alimentarius
   (UN FAO Maximum Residue Limits)
U.S. Maximum Tolerance Levels
European Union Maximum Residue Levels 		Go to web site

Go to web site
Go to web site
 

Ecotoxicity for Cyanide ion

Note! Information for many chemicals is incomplete and may not be fully representative of effects on the environment. Why? Click on underlined terms for definitions and additional information.

Aquatic Ecotoxicity
All Toxic Effects for Organism Group
Organism Group Effects Noted
AquaticPlants Accumulation, Growth, Population
Crustaceans Mortality
Fish Accumulation, Avoidance, Behavior, Biochemistry, Growth, Histology, Intoxication, Mortality, Physiology
Molluscs Mortality, Physiology
NematodesandFlatworms Mortality
Phytoplankton Development, Mortality, Population
Zooplankton Feeding Behavior, Mortality, No Effect Coded, Reproduction
~ Un-Assigned Mortality
View All Aquatic Ecotoxicity Studies and References
 
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group
Organism Group Average Acute Toxicity Acute Toxicity Range
Fish Highly Toxic Highly Toxic
Molluscs Moderately Toxic Slight to High Toxicity
NematodesandFlatworms Slightly Toxic Slight Toxicity
Zooplankton Highly Toxic Highly Toxic
View All Acute Summaries
 

Terrestrial Ecotoxicity
Summary of Acute Toxicity for Organism Group

Sorry, no honeybee acute toxicity data available for this chemical. Try related chemicals.

Note: Population-level effects on honeybees may occur even if a pesticide has low acute toxicity. For example, certain pesticides interfere with honeybee reproduction, ability to navigate, or temperature regulation, any of which can have an effect on long-term survival of honeybee colonies. The neonicotinoids, pyrethroids and keto-enol pesticides are some types of pesticides causing one or more of these effects.
Honeybee Chronic Toxicity

Sorry, no honeybee chronic toxicity data available for this chemical. Try related chemicals.

Related Chemicals for Cyanide ion
CAS Number Relation Reason Chemical Name Chem Detail Registration Symptoms California Use Chem Use Type U.S. EPA Reg PAN Bad Actor
143-33-9 Parent P Sodium cyanide View View View View Rodenticide Yes Yes
592-01-8 Related 1 Calcium cyanide View View View View Rodenticide No Yes
544-92-3 Related 1 Copper cyanide View View View View No Not Listed
57-12-5 Related 1 Cyanide ion View View View View Breakdown product No Not Listed
506-77-4 Related 1 Cyanogen chloride View View View View No Not Listed
74-90-8 Related 1 Hydrocyanic acid View View View View Fumigant No Yes
151-50-8 Related 1 Potassium cyanide View View View View Rodenticide No Not Listed
 
Working with the Information on this Page

Click on underlined terms for definitions or go to the Pesticide Tutorial overview page.

Any underlined term with a book icon has additional information.

* Data marked with an asterisk indicates that this chemical is not explicitly listed on the corresponding list. Instead, it belongs to a group of chemicals that IS designated on the list. For example, if an agency assigns a classification of reproductive toxicant to "mercury compounds", that classification is applied to all mercury compounds in the PAN Pesticide database, which are then marked with an asterisk.

To print this page, choose Print. To export this data, choose Save As 'HTML Source' and open it in Excel or equivalent program.

 
 
Citation: Kegley, S.E., Hill, B.R., Orme S., Choi A.H., PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticide Action Network, North America (San Francisco, CA, 2010), http:www.pesticideinfo.org.
© 2000-2010 Pesticide Action Network, North America. All rights reserved.