Evacuation after Tauranga cyanide spill

A chemical spilled at a dentists' surgery in Tauranga today has been identified as the potentially fatal compound potassium cyanide.

Bay of Plenty area manager Murray Binning said a "small quantity of potassium cyanide" was dropped in the dental clinic.

He understood the person who dropped it had got themselves to hospital for a check-up.

Firefighters were cleaning up the spill and a decontamination unit was ready to decontaminate the firefighters and their gear.

They were confident the situation was under control and there was no risk to the public from the spill, Mr Binning said.

The United States Centres for Disease Control website said exposure to potassium cyanide could be "rapidly fatal".

"Potassium cyanide releases hydrogen cyanide gas, a highly toxic chemical asphyxiant that interferes with the body's ability to use oxygen."