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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Toxicological information

Acute Toxicity: oral

Currently viewing:

Administrative data

Endpoint:
acute toxicity: oral
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
1984
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: see 'Remark'
Remarks:
Experimental data was reviewed by the ECETOC Task Force, author of the JACC Report No. 53, “Cyanides of Hydrogen, Sodium and Potassium, and Acetone Cyanohydrin (CAS No. 74-90-8, 143-33-9, 151-50-8 and 75-86-5)”, 2007. The report is a weight of evidence approach to an extensive body of literature, much of which was undertaken prior to development of guidelines. The report was peer reviewed by the scientific non-governmental organization (NGO), which judged the data to be reliable with restrictions.
Cross-reference
Reason / purpose for cross-reference:
reference to same study

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
review article or handbook
Title:
Unnamed
Year:
2007
Reference Type:
review article or handbook
Title:
Clinical and experimental toxicology of cyanides
Author:
Ballantyne B and Marrs TC
Year:
1987
Bibliographic source:
IOP Publishing, Wright, Bristol, UK, pp. 41-126.

Materials and methods

Test guideline
Qualifier:
no guideline followed
Deviations:
not specified
Remarks:
no information given on details of methods
Principles of method if other than guideline:
A reputable corporate laboratory (Union Carbide, Danbury, CT, U.S.A., by Dr. Bryan Ballantyne, MD) generated data on lethal doses to animals, which was judged by the ECETOC Task Force to be valid.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Test type:
other: method is valid as judged by ECETOC Task Force
Limit test:
no

Test material

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
Reference substance name:
Hydrogen cyanide
EC Number:
200-821-6
EC Name:
Hydrogen cyanide
Cas Number:
74-90-8
Molecular formula:
CHN
IUPAC Name:
hydrogen cyanide

Test animals

Species:
rat
Strain:
not specified
Sex:
female

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:
oral: gavage
Vehicle:
not specified
Details on study design:
no data
Statistics:
95% Confidence Limits were calculated for the LD50.

Results and discussion

Effect levels
Sex:
female
Dose descriptor:
LD50
Effect level:
>= 3.62 mg/kg bw
95% CL:
> 3.08 - < 3.87
Remarks on result:
other: This is one of 8 LD50 studies in rats which were dosed with either HCN, NaCN, KCN or Acetone Cyanohydrin (ACH). The results of all studies indicated a LD50 of < 10.0 mg/kg bw.
Mortality:
50% of treated animals

Any other information on results incl. tables

The LD50 of HCN in female rats is 3.62 mg/kg bw. This corresponds to 0.127 mmol/kg bw.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Interpretation of results:
very toxic
Remarks:
Migrated information Criteria used for interpretation of results: EU
Conclusions:
The literature on acute oral toxicity in animals was reviewed by the ECETOC Task Force.  The lowest oral LD50 for rats is 3.62 (mg/kgbw) .
Executive summary:

The acute toxicity of HCN was reviewed by ECETOC in the JACC report on Cyanides (No. 53, 2007).  HCN is a highly toxic compound by the oral route in rats, and is classified according to the most conservative category possible (Acute Toxicity Hazard Category 1). The lowest oral LD50 (mg/kgbw) reported for rats is 3.62.