Decontamination ricin exposure

Appropriate PPE must be worn by members of emergency services treating casualties of ricin exposure. Inadequate decontamination may result in secondary cases from exposure to primary cases. 

Though ricin can be deadly, most exposures result in uncomfortable but limited gastroenteritis and minimal systemic toxicity. Gastrointestinal decontamination should be considered, depending on the time of ingestion. Symptomatic and supportive measures are the mainstay of treatment. There is no specific antidote for this toxin. 

Ricin also is inactivated by a 30 min exposure to concentrations of NaOCl ranging from 0.1% to 2.5%, or by a mixture of 0.25% NaOCl plus 0.25 N NaOH (Wannemacher et al., 1989). In general, solutions of 1.0% NaOCl are effective for decontamination of ricin from laboratory surfaces, equipment, animal cages, or small spills (Wannemacher et al., 1989 NIOSH, 2003 Wannemacher et al., 1993 Burrows and Renner, 1999). 

Promising research is being conducted in animals for ricin antisera and vaccination. If exposure is suspected, decontamination of the area or exposed skin should be done with soap and water or with a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite bleach solution. A protective mask is effective against aerosol exposure. Standard safety precautions should be followed by all health care workers if exposure is suspected. Because of ricin s extreme ease of production, wide availabiUty, and the fact that it is one of the most potent plant toxins known, it is considered to be a potential agent that could be used for bioterrorism. 

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