Ricin as a Chemical Terrorist Agent
About ricin poisoning Ricin is a poisonous substance found in the castor bean. Castor oil was once used as an oral laxative but is now used mainly as an industrial lubricant and for preparing leather products.
Castor beans are grown agriculturally worldwide and the plants grow wild in arid parts of the United States.
Castor beans are slightly larger than pinto beans, darkly colored with light mottling, and have a small light-brown cap at one end. The beans are not normally used as food.
Ricin poisoning is not contagious, and is not spread from one person to another. To be poisoned a person must be exposed to ricin by inhalation, ingestion, and injection.
While there has been relatively little human experience with the ricin toxin, ricin poisoning has occurred in suicide attempts, following accidental ingestion of castor beans, and in acts of bioterrorism and assassination
The possibility of ricin poisoning is extremely low in Pennsylvania, but at least one instance of ricin toxin manufacturing occurred in the United States in the 1990s.
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Symptoms
Eating castor beans or ricin-contaminated material causes:
- Diarrhea
- Internal bleeding
- Nausea
- Liver and kidney failure
- Vomiting
- Circulatory failure
- Abdominal cramps
- Rapid heartbeat
If the castor beans are swallowed whole, the poisoning will be less severe than if the beans are chewed.
Breathing dust that contains ricin causes:
- Cough
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Difficult breathing
- Weakness
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Cyanosis (blue skin)
Breathing the dust can result in respiratory and circulatory failure. Exposure to concentrated ricin particles in the air is only likely during an act of bioterrorism where large numbers of people would likely experience the signs and symptoms in one place and time.
Injection of ricin toxin would likely result in:
- Tissue (muscle) necrosis near the injection site
- Probable multiple organ failure
- Death
All routes of exposure are very dangerous and can result in death. The time from exposure to ricin toxin to onset of symptoms is usually four to eight hours.
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Diagnosis and treatment
For inhalation exposure, similar symptoms in large numbers of patients might suggest several respiratory pathogens.
Early post exposure (zero to 24 hours) nasal or throat swabs and induced respiratory secretions may be collected for toxin assay. Blood for serum may be collected. Toxin assays and measurement of antibody response can be performed on serum.
There is no cure for ricin poisoning, so only a person’s symptoms can be treated. Hydration is important. Acetaminophen for fever and cough suppressants may make the patient more comfortable.
For those with pulmonary intoxification, respiratory support may be necessary. Pulmonary edema may need to be treated with positive end expiratory pressure ventilation and diuretics.
Standard management techniques for oral poisoning should be used if the toxin is ingested.
In cases of severe ricin poisoning, death can be caused by:
- Kidney failure
- Respiratory failure
- Circulatory collapse
- Fluid loss
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Infection control and prevention
Health care workers should use standard precautions.
Decontaminate exposed skin by washing with soap and water and/or 0.1 percent sodium hypochlorite (1 part household bleach added to 49 parts water).
To prevent poisoning, do not grow the castor bean plant indoors or in areas where people may come in contact with the beans. Castor beans have been described as very attractive due to their unique mottling patterns and may be of interest to curious children.
Do not eat unidentified seeds or beans.
Do not drink castor oil for medicinal purposes.
If you notice any of the symptoms or signs of illness described above, seek medical help immediately.
Any suspect cases should be reported immediately to the local health authorities.
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Resources
For updates, go to the Pennsylvania Health Alert Network website.
Find information for clinicians on the CDC's Emergency Preparedness and Response website.
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Last Updated: 8/1/2008