 Commonwealth of Australia 2010


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List of Tables



List of Figures




1.Introduction

1.1Declaration


Sodium cyanide (CAS No 143-33-9) was declared a priority existing chemical under the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 (Commonwealth) (the Act) by the Minister for Health and Ageing by notice in the Commonwealth Chemical Gazette of 7 May 2002. The grounds for declaring sodium cyanide a priority existing chemical were:

  • widespread use would provide a number of ways for the chemical to enter the environment;

  • reported avian poisonings in Australia as a result of consumption of cyanide-contaminated environmental media (e.g. surface water) at tailings dams;

  • production of highly toxic and flammable gas when in contact with water;

  • high acute toxicity to aquatic life and to birds and animals; and

  • high chronic toxicity to aquatic life.

1.2Objectives of the assessment


This is a full environmental risk assessment, covering all industrial uses of sodium cyanide in Australia. The objectives of this assessment are to:

  • identify the potential for environmental exposure in Australia;

  • identify the environmental hazards of sodium cyanide and determine the risk of adverse effects to the environment;

  • investigate the risks of sodium cyanide in Australia making use of any international assessments;

  • assess current controls for sodium cyanide and identify whether these are adequate; and

  • make recommendations on control measures for the management of environmental risks, where appropriate.

This assessment does not address public health or occupational health and safety concerns of sodium cyanide.

1.3Sources of information


In accordance with the Act, manufacturers and importers of sodium cyanide were required to apply for assessment and supply relevant data. Applications and responses were received from 27 manufacturers, importers, formulators, some end users of sodium cyanide, some government regulatory agencies and a community group. Relevant agencies in each state/territory were consulted to provide information regarding aspects of the assessment. Public meetings were held in 2004 in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to discuss the preliminary findings of the assessment.

The applicants listed in Section 1.5 provided some information. Further information was obtained from some users of sodium cyanide who were not applicants, as referenced in the report. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken to obtain information on the environmental hazards of sodium cyanide. Consistent with the objectives, this report presents a review and critical evaluation of relevant information relating to the potential environmental hazards and risks from sodium cyanide. Key studies were obtained and reviewed during this assessment. Due to the availability of a peer-reviewed international assessment report (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; ATDSR, 1997), peer reviewed databases (e.g. Hazardous Substances Data Base), and consolidated reports (e.g. ANZECC/ARMCANZ, 2000a), not all references in these key studies were evaluated. However, many relevant studies published prior to and since the cited reviews were obtained and assessed on an individual basis.

The import of sodium cyanide into Australia was monitored through information provided by the Australian Customs Service.

References in the report that have not been sighted are marked with an asterisk. The information provided for these studies reflects the level of information reported in the secondary source.

Data supplied by manufacturers/importers

The following data were originally received from manufacturers/importers and where necessary updated figures have been obtained:



  • quantities of sodium cyanide imported and/or manufactured (as ‘pure’ cyanide or in products/mixtures);

  • quantities of sodium cyanide that are formulated into products/mixtures and the concentrations of sodium cyanide in these products/mixtures;

  • uses or potential uses of sodium cyanide and products containing the chemical;

  • methods used or proposed to be used in handling, storing, manufacturing and disposing of sodium cyanide;

  • some information on environmental exposure and methods of analysis;

  • risk management initiatives (e.g. environmental management systems);

  • safety information (e.g. safety data sheets (SDSs), emergency procedures, container labelling);

  • end-users of sodium cyanide; and

  • some unpublished reports and data on environmental fate, toxicity and risk associated with sodium cyanide

1.4Peer review


During all stages of preparation, this report has been subject to internal review by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) and NICNAS. Sections discussing environmental exposure and fate, metabolism in animals, and environmental hazard and risk characterisation were reviewed by Dr Jenny Stauber, Senior Principal Research Scientist (Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Energy Technology, Sydney, NSW), and Mr Paul Howe, Ecotoxicologist (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom). Sections discussing chemical composition and identity and environmental fate were reviewed by Mr William Staunton, Principal Gold Metallurgist (Extractive Metallurgy, School of Chemical and Mathematical Sciences, The Parker Centre, Murdoch University, WA). The draft report has also been reviewed by state and territory environment protection agencies.

1.5Applicants


Following the declaration of sodium cyanide as a Priority Existing Chemical, 27 companies or organisations applied for assessment of this chemical.

In accordance with the Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989, applicants were provided with a draft copy of the report for comments during the corrections/variation phase of the assessment. The applicants were as follows:

table of applicants

table of applicants continued





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