Another point to be noted;Would the Germans be so stupid as to...

Another point to be noted;

Would the Germans be so stupid as to have the naked flames of coke a fired crematorium in the same building as this, with the only barrier being a flimsy wooden door.


3. Why is cyanide a dangerous substance?

Cyanide is a fast acting poison in the human body. It affects our ability to use the oxygen we breathe. Severe breathing difficulties develop very rapidly when cyanide is swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Highly poisonous cyanide gas can be produced when cyanide solids or liquids are mixed with moisture in air, or with steam, acid, acid fumes or if air is bubbled through a cyanide solution. Cyanide gas has an odour of bitter almonds. 20 to 40 per cent of people are unable to detect its odour and therefore have no warning of its presence. Those who can detect the odour of cyanide gas can detect it at a concentration of around 0.6ppm.

Cyanide gas is highly flammable and reacts violently in some situations (e.g., a large amount of cyanide gas mixed with air may suddenly explode). There is an extremely high risk of explosion if cyanides are exposed to heat or flames. Safety procedures are aimed at preventing the substance from entering the human body and avoiding situations where cyanide solids or liquids might react to produce the highly poisonous and flammable cyanide gas.


Cyanide - Information on handling, storage and first-aid