Facts On Ricin

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  • What ricin is:

    Ricin is a poison that can be made from the waste left over from processing castor beans. It can be in the form of a powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. It is a stable substance. For example, it is not affected much by extreme conditions such as very hot or very cold temperatures.

  • Where ricin is found and how it is used:

    Castor beans are processed throughout the world to make castor oil. Ricin is part of the waste "mash" produced when castor oil is made. Ricin has some potential medical uses, such as bone marrow transplants and cancer treatment (to kill cancer cells).

  • How you could be exposed to ricin:

    It would take a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people. Accidental exposure to ricin is highly unlikely. People can breathe in ricin mist or powder and be poisoned. Ricin can also get into water or food and then be swallowed. Pellets of ricin, or ricin dissolved in a liquid can be injected into people's bodies. Depending on the route of exposure (such as injection), as little as 500 micrograms of ricin could be enough to kill an adult. A 500-microgram dose of ricin would be about the size of the head of a pin. A much greater amount would be needed to kill people if the ricin were inhaled (breathed in) or swallowed.

    In 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian writer and journalist who was living in London, died after he was attacked by a man with an umbrella. The umbrella had been rigged to inject a poison ricin pellet under Markov's skin. Some reports have indicated that ricin may have been used in the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and that quantities of ricin were found in al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan.

    Ricin poisoning is not contagious. It cannot be spread from person-to-person through casual contact.

  • How ricin works:


    Effects of ricin poisoning depend on whether ricin was inhaled, ingested, or injected. Signs and symptoms of ricin exposure. The major symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of exposure and the dose received, though many organs may be affected in severe cases.

    Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur within 8 hours of exposure. Following ingestion of ricin, initial symptoms typically occur in less than 6 hours.




    Skin and eye exposure: Ricin in the powder or mist form can cause redness and pain of the skin and the eyes. Death from ricin poisoning could take place within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dose received. If death has not occurred in 3 to 5 days, the victim usually recovers.


  • How ricin poisoning is treated:



  • How to know if you've been exposed to ricin:

    If we suspect that people have inhaled ricin, a potential clue would be that a large number of people who had been close to each other suddenly developed fever, cough, and excess fluid in their lungs. These symptoms could be followed by severe breathing problems and possibly death. No widely available, reliable test exists to confirm that a person has been exposed to ricin.

  • Protection and preventative measures:

    First, get fresh air by leaving the area where the ricin was released. Moving to an area with fresh air is a good way to reduce the possibility of death from exposure to ricin. If the ricin release was outside, move away from the area where the ricin was released. If the ricin release was indoors, get out of the building. If you are near a release of ricin, emergency coordinators may tell you to either evacuate the area or to "shelter in place" inside a building to avoid being exposed to the chemical.


    Removing your clothing: Quickly take off clothing that may have ricin on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head. If you are helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.



    Anything that touches the contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag. If you wear contacts, put them in the plastic bag, too. Seal the bag, and then seal that bag inside another plastic bag. Disposing of your clothing in this way will help protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.


    If someone has ingested ricin, do not induce vomiting or give fluids to drink. Seek medical attention right away. Dial 911 and explain what has happened.
    • Lauren Johnston