Posted on 02/29/2008 3:14:39 AM PST by maquiladora
LAS VEGAS (AP) Preliminary tests indicate that a package found at a motel contained the toxin ricin, and seven people have been taken to hospitals, authorities said.
Police were called to the Extended Stay America Motel on Thursday and retrieved a package from the motel manager that was determined to be a chemical or controlled substance, Officer Ramone Denby said.
Two preliminary tests indicate it contained ricin, he said. Results from further tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a second local lab are expected Friday, police said.
Homeland Security officials joined local police in the investigation. Officials from the FBI, Las Vegas Health District, a hazardous materials team and the National Guard were also at the scene.
Officers cordoned off the area and isolated the room where the substance was found.
Three motel employees and another person were quarantined and decontaminated at the site, then taken to hospitals for further testing, Denby said. All appeared to be in good condition, he said. Three police officers who had been exposed were also taken to hospitals.
It takes between six and eight hours for someone exposed to ricin to show signs of contamination, Denby said.
A woman who answered the phone at the motel declined comment.
Ricin is made from the waste left over from processing castor beans, and can be extremely lethal. As little as 500 micrograms, or about the size of the head of a pin, can kill a human, according to the CDC.
The superior "oiliness" of castor oil and its ability to "cling" to very hot moving parts make it an outstanding racing oil for high performance engines. In fact, it is the basic ingredient of Castrol-R racing motor oil for high speed automobile and motorcycle engines. Castor oil is a popular fuel additive for two cycle engines, and imparts a distinctive aroma to the exhaust of these engines. Castor wax, a hard wax produced by the hydrogenation (chemical combination with hydrogen) of pure castor oil, is used in polishes, electrical condensers, carbon paper, and as a solid lubricant.
I checked the wayback machine, no archives available for 9/1/01 to 9/11/01.
We can check again later as they will search on their next webcrawl.
OK. You didn’t. I retract the assumption that you did.
But what was the purpose of pinging me and Rick regarding that term.
He and I had issues yesterday. Time passes and we go our separate ways. Then he starts up with me again today on a new and different thread.
He hits “Report Abuse” when his feelings get hurt. Yet he goes ballistic and uses profanity.
I once again will remain bigger than than he is; I will not stoop to his level. But dumbasses who stalk you on on different threads really piss me off.
You actually bought the innocent look????
Remarkable!
What's remarkable is that you ignored the question I asked you.
But what was the purpose of pinging me and Rick regarding that term?
You should know by now it's not a good idea to step in a situation between two people where you don't belong.
What's the deal?
*sigh*
Because I was deliberately stirring up sh.., uh, stuff because I’m a bit bored.
That’s the deal.
lolol.
Good on you.
I can relate to that.
Really, I’m almost ROFLOL. Sometimes FReeping can get way personal. You just took the edge off for me
lololol
Thanks!
And that was the other reason.
No doubt, some day you can do the same for me...
Ping me anytime you are at the edge.
I’ll come get ya!
Thanks.
By some weird coinky-dink, I got this quote in a email today:
It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously.”
—Peter Ustinov,
Wow. They don’t know much, do they?
Not even the most basic things about the guy or his family or the person who brought the ricin to the attention of police!
The woman did not say(like they usually do) :’We can not comment about that part of the investigation at this time..blahblahblah’....she repeatedly said: “We Don’t Know’...LOL
I guess they haven’t gotten around to asking yet!
Maybe they are trying to find someone who speaks Farsi...(eye roll)
On the bright side, she knew it wasn’t terror related....
Seeing your post I had to go back and look at something I saw in my garden catalog yesterday. It’s a plant called caster bean. Pretty but I passed because it says remove seed pods if children around because poisonous. Is this where it comes from? 3.75 a packet ...3.25 for 2 or more.
I hope one of them didn’t take the cap off to smell it.
Don’t make me sorry for pinging you. Behave.
Behave?
Girl, it’s too late for that. See the pi$$ing contest Rick.Donaldson and I had starting at #210.
null and void came along and cheered me up, though.
Yep...definitely not terror related...Katie Couric just told us so.
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