Ricin Poisoning

Poisoning that occurs when an individual is exposed to ricin, a substance that is made from the waste that is left over when castor beans are processed to make castor oil. Ricin that has been weaponized may take the form of a powder, a mist or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. It is extremely toxic by several routes of exposure. When inhaled, symptoms include fever, chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath, nausea and joint pain followed by airway necrosis and pulmonary edema, and finally severe respiratory distress and death from hypoxemia (lack of oxygen). When ingested, ricin causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms followed by vascular collapse and death. There is no vaccine or prophylactic antitoxin.