Baby Safety / Compounds / Sodium cyanide

Is Sodium cyanide safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Sodium cyanide due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

What is sodium cyanide?

Also known as: Cymag, Cyanogran, Cyanide of sodium, NaCN.

IUPAC name
sodium cyanide
CAS number
143-33-9
Molecular formula
CNNa
Molecular weight
49.007 g/mol
SMILES
[C-]#N.[Na+]
PubChem CID
8929

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Sodium cyanide due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Severe risk

Pregnancy increases vulnerability to Sodium cyanide. Heavy metals cross the placenta, accumulate in fetal tissue, and interfere with neurodevelopment. Maternal bone resorption during pregnancy mobilizes stored metals.

Known reproductive toxicant (GHS H360) or confirmed endocrine disruptor. Placental transfer is presumed. Fetal exposure during critical developmental windows may cause structural malformations, growth restriction, or functional deficits.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

3 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Sodium cyanide. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2020Not evaluated by IARC for carcinogenicity — sodium cyanide is an extreme acute systemic toxicant (cytochrome c oxidase inhibitor) classified EU CLP Acute Tox 2 (H300+H310+H330); primary regulatory concern is acute lethal toxicity, environmental aquatic toxicity, and occupational exposure in gold mining and electroplating; no established carcinogenicity classification
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 2 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 0 positive / 2 negative reports)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter sodium cyanide

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium cyanide:

  • Water-based formulations where feasible
    Trade-offs: Longer drying time. May not achieve same performance in all applications.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • Bio-based solvents (d-limonene, ethyl lactate)
    Trade-offs: Higher cost. Flammability concerns with some bio-solvents.
    Relative cost: 2-5× conventional

Frequently asked questions

Is sodium cyanide safe for kids?

Infants are extremely vulnerable to Sodium cyanide due to immature blood-brain barrier, higher gastrointestinal absorption rates (40-50% vs 3-10% in adults), and rapidly developing neurology. Even trace exposure can cause irreversible neurodevelopmental harm.

What products contain sodium cyanide?

Sodium cyanide appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to sodium cyanide?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about sodium cyanide?

Sodium cyanide has been classified by 3 agencies including IARC, EPA CTX / Genetox, EPA CTX / Genetox, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Sodium cyanide in the baby app

Look up products containing sodium cyanide, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (1)
  1. Sodium Cyanide NaCN Cytochrome c Oxidase Inhibitor Histotoxic Hypoxia; Gold Mining Cyanide Heap Leach 78% Global Use; Hydroxocobalamin Cyanokit Antidote FDA Approved; Sodium Nitrite Thiosulfate Methemoglobin; EU CLP Acute Tox 2 H300 H310 H330 Aquatic Acute 1; OSHA Ceiling 5 mg/m3 CN Skin; Baia Mare Cyanide Spill 2000 Aquatic Disaster; ICMC International Cyanide Management Code; Fire Smoke HCN Combustion Byproduct (2020) — regulatory

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →