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A critical review: general toxicity and environmental fate of three aqueous cyanide ions and associated ligands

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Abstract

Disclaimer. Although the research described in this manuscript has been funded wholly or in part by the EPA, Contract #68D10135, it has not been subjected to the Agency's review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency; no official endorsement should be inferred.

Cyanides are ‘priority pollutants’ under the Clean Water Act. A number of Superfund sites, particularly mining and minerals processing sites, have released cyanide wastes to the environment. Free cyanide is present in water from the dissolution of compounds such as sodium cyanate, potassium cyanide, and hydrogen cyanide. The toxicity and fate of cyanide breakdown products, either during treatment or during natural degradation, is poorly understood. Aqueous species of particular concern are cyanate (CNO-), thiocyanate (SCN-), and cyanogen chloride (CNCl-). The toxicity of these compounds to aquatic life is highly variable depending on environmental conditions, including physicochemical and microbial influences. Information pertaining to aquatic plant uptake of these cyanide ligands could not be located in the literature, while only a few studies addressing terrestrial plant uptake of cyanide (and only in the form of NaCN) could be found. In order to adequately evaluate the environmental fate and associated toxicity to higher plants and animals, further studies need to be conducted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Locheed Martin Services Group, 7411 Beach Drive East, Port Orchard, WA, 98366, U.S.A. Author for correspondence

    Dean W. Boening

  2. Roy F. Weston Inc., 700 Fifth Ave., Suite 5700, Seattle, WA, 98104–5057, U.S.A

    Christine M. Chew

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  1. Dean W. Boening
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  2. Christine M. Chew
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Boening, D.W., Chew, C.M. A critical review: general toxicity and environmental fate of three aqueous cyanide ions and associated ligands. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 109, 67–79 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005005117439

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