Ricin

Ricin Latest News

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad recently busted a suspected terror syndicate by arresting a ‘doctor’, who was allegedly preparing the highly lethal chemical poison, ‘Ricin’, and whose handler is associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province, and two others.

About Ricin

• Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans. 
• If castor beans are chewed and swallowed, the ricin that comes out can cause injury. 
• Ricin can be made from the waste material left over from processing castor beans.
• Ricin can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet. 
• It can also be dissolved in water or weak acid.
• It is stable under normal conditions. However, it will not work if temperatures are over 80 degrees centigrade (176 degrees Fahrenheit).
• It is toxic when inhaled, ingested, or injected. 
• As few as five to ten micrograms per kilogram can be lethal.
• How Does It Work?
  • Ricin works by getting inside the cells of a person’s body and preventing the cells from making the proteins they need. Without the proteins, cells die.
  • Eventually this is harmful to the whole body, and death may occur.
• It is of special concern because of its potential use as a biological weapon. 
• Accidental exposure to ricin is rare and results primarily from the ingestion of castor seeds.
• Treatment: 
  • No antidote exists for ricin. 
  • Symptomatic ricin poisoning is treated by providing supportive medical care to minimize the effects of the poisoning.

Source: NDTV

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