Cyanide poisoning possible in collapse

The Nassau fire marshal was investigating Tuesday whether cyanide fumes caused a man to collapse at a jewelry shop in Manorhaven, officials said.

Port Washington Fire Chief Thomas McDonough said a man apparently was affected by fumes at a jewelry manufacturer, wholesaler and repair shop at 73 Manorhaven Blvd. Fire crews responded to a call from the man, who said he was having an allergic reaction at 3:41 a.m.

The man, who was found semiconscious by emergency personnel, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill. The hospital told fire officials and the county's hazardous materials team that the man could have been poisoned by cyanide, said Vincent McManus, a spokesman for the fire marshal's office. "Apparently, cyanide is a common byproduct of some jewelry manufacturing," he said.

McManus said officials believe the man, whose name was not released, is the owner of the jewelry shop. A business called Spellbound Creations is listed at that address, McManus said.

The man had gone to the shop to retrieve something he had forgotten, McDonough said.

McManus said the hospital was continuing to run tests on the victim to confirm the cyanide poisoning. "We're told this type of test takes some time," he said. The fire marshal's hazardous materials team returned to the business about 5 a.m. Tuesday to test for cyanide, he said.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cyanide is a fast-acting, potentially lethal chemical that prevents the body from using oxygen and was used as a genocidal agent in World War II. Found in gas, crystal or liquid form, the chemical occurs in industrial processes or naturally in some plants. Symptoms of high doses include unconsciousness and respiratory failure.

McDonough said two apartments above the shop were evacuated as a precaution, but said there was no public health risk.

A resident of one of the apartments was also taken to St. Francis, though the injuries seemed unrelated, McManus said.

Both the man and the neighbor were discharged in good condition, St. Francis spokesman Paul Barry said Tuesday.

With Sophia Chang