Ricin decontamination

Fig. 17 Ricin decontamination using biotin-tagged lactose polymer [81]...

Decontamination Soap and water, or diluted sodium hypochlorite solution (0.1 percent). Since ricin is not volatile, secondary aerosols are usually not a danger to medical personnel. 

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). 

Treatment of a person poisoned by ricin involves alimentary canal decontamination procedures so as to prevent absorption of the toxin. These include the use of syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting, activated charcoal to adsorb the toxin and cathartics to accelerate expulsion. Where a suspected poisoning has occurred but the patient remains asymptomatic, alimentary canal decontamination should still be undertaken and hospital observation for at least six hours after suspected poisoning should take place. The patient should be told to return immediately if symptoms begin. Where more severe poisoning has occurred treatment with intravenous fluids, monitoring for haemolysis and hypoglycaemia, supportive care and the possibility of hypovolaemia should be considered. 

Anytime you are called to a mass casualty event in which all patients have pulmonary symptoms, you should not enter the scene or approach victims until the HazMat team has made an investigation. This approach may have to be modified if HazMat is not available within minutes. If you must respond to save lives, you should wear Level B or C PPE, and the patients should be decontaminated before being transported. This toxin will not be detected by chemical agent detectors, so you would suspect either a chemical that is not detectable by current detectors or one of the biological toxins (ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, or mycotoxin T2). 

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. 

Lactose and biotin-tagged glycopolymer could effectively absorb ricin and the obtained toxin-glycopolymer conjugate could be transferred onto streptavidin-modified magnetic particles for decontamination (Fig. 17) [81]. 

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. 

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