Ricin dissemination

Examples of cationic material transport on dust include the extremely toxic castor protein (ricin) and the reactor-produced radioisotopes from RDDs. Ricin as purified crystals or powder forms may be disseminated as aerosols (Audi et al. 2005). The localized dispersal of powdered ricin could potentially affect large areas due to transport in dust. Note that the dust in Figure 4.4 is severe enough to limit visibility to less than one quarter of a mile and the street lights are illuminated. Figure 4.5 is... 

These are anthrax, smallpox, plague, botulism, tularemia, viral hemorrhagic fevers and ricin. They can disseminate and present a high risk on public health. Most of them require Level 4 Biosafety laboratories. 

Many of the features observed in poisoning can be explained by ricin-induced endothelial cell damage, with fluid and protein leakage and tissue oedema, causing a so-called vascular leak syndrome . Disseminated intravascular coagulation has been observed in experimental animals following intravenous ricin administration and this is also likely to reflect endothelial cell damage. 

The persistent chemical agents which could be used in a foodborne attack, aimed at poisoning human consumers, include the nerve agent VX, any of the mycotoxins—aflatoxin, T-2 toxin, nivalenol (see Appendix A for discussion of their toxicology)—and compounds such as ricin produced from the castor bean plant. Chapter 5 should be consulted for a full discussion on natural toxins. These chemicals, combined with the biotoxins listed above, could potentially be used in the food supply. This would not be an easy task since many of these agents are toxic to animals and thus might kill the host, preventing dissemination into the food distribution system. 

The second involved the production of a ricin dust cloud, but due to limited amounts of ricin being produced and the inefficient delivery via the respiratory tract, little work seems to have been pursued in this means of dissemination. Although both approaches were laboratory tested, neither was perfected for use in Europe before the end of the war.29 Protective Equipment... 

Category B agents are those agents that are more difficult to disseminate and/ or would result in moderate morbidity and low mortality rates. Current Category B ents include ricin, Q fever, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, cholera, and T2 mycotoxin. 

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