7/20/2023 0 Comments Ricin antidoteAs the illness progresses, a person may experience vomiting, fever and low blood pressure, all potentially culminating in multisystem organ failure and death. Within six hours, the victim may begin to experience symptoms, including general weakness and muscle pain. It is most dangerous when injected, because the poison enters the blood stream directly and rapidly disperses from there throughout the body. The physiological symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the method and timing of administration, as well as the dosage. Once inside the body, however, ricin is able to enter cells, damage the cell membrane, and deactivate ribosomes, thereby preventing them from making new proteins. Individuals exposed to it do not become contagious, and the symptoms cannot be spread from person to person the way a cold or the flu can. In these forms, ricin can be used as a weapon.īecause it is a protein (not a virus or living organism), ricin is not infectious. Extracted ricin toxin can be made into a powder, a mist or a pellet. However, castor oil itself does not contain ricin. Ricin also can be derived from waste produced during the processing of seeds for their oil. When chewed and consumed, castor beans can release ricin, which poisons the victim and may even cause death. Ricin is found in the seeds, which often are referred to as “beans,” even though Ricinus is not a member of the bean family. The plants are cultivated for their oil and ornamental value, and are found in many locations in the United States. Castor bean plants are native to the Mediterranean area, Africa and India, and are common in tropical regions around the world. Ricin is a highly toxic protein that occurs naturally in seeds from the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis L., a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Understanding this chemical, how it works, and how it is used can help to minimize its danger. Most recently, in April 2013, envelopes containing powdered ricin were sent to President Obama and US Senator, Roger Wicker. There also have been multiple incidents of ricin being sent through the mail. In September 1978, a Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, was assassinated by a pellet of ricin shot into his leg. Since at least World War I, governments have investigated its use on the battlefield. Ricin, one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances, has a long history as a chemical weapon. Photo by: Adityamadhav83 via Wikimedia Commons Photo of the Ricinus communis (castor oil plant), and it's seeds.
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