Thiocyanate (sulphocyanate or SCN) is believed to be a goitrogenic compound. It is a competitive inhibitor of the human thyroid sodium/iodide symporter NIS. Thus, the adverse effects of thiocyanate overload are especially noticeable when iodine availability is low. Intake of goitrogenic substances causes an adaptive increase in T3‰ЫЄs binding to brain nuclear receptors and in the activity of type II 5'-deiodinase, which generates T3 from T4. This altered function and availability of T3 is detrimental to the developing brain. Thiocyanate is also known to modulate activity of mammalian peroxidases. For instance, eosinophil peroxidase has been implicated in promoting oxidative tissue damage in a variety of inflammatory conditions, including asthma. Thiocyanate also acts as inhibitor to carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes the rapid conversion of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons. (A139, A143, A149) Organic nitriles decompose into cyanide ions both in vivo and in vitro. Consequently the primary mechanism of toxicity for organic nitriles is their production of toxic cyanide ions or hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide is an inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase in the fourth complex of the electron transport chain (found in the membrane of the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells). It complexes with the ferric iron atom in this enzyme. The binding of cyanide to this cytochrome prevents transport of electrons from cytochrome c oxidase to oxygen. As a result, the electron transport chain is disrupted and the cell can no longer aerobically produce ATP for energy. Tissues that mainly depend on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart, are particularly affected. Cyanide is also known produce some of its toxic effects by binding to catalase, glutathione peroxidase, methemoglobin, hydroxocobalamin, phosphatase, tyrosinase, ascorbic acid oxidase, xanthine oxidase, succinic dehydrogenase, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase. Cyanide binds to the ferric ion of methemoglobin to form inactive cyanmethemoglobin. (L97)