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Poisoned letter found at postal site in Greenville
Posted Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 7:40 pm

By Jason Zacher
ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER
jzacher@greenvillenews.com

A letter with traces of the deadly poison Ricin was found in a Greenville postal facility, according to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control verified Tuesday that the substance found early Oct. 15 in a vial in an envelope marked "caution - Ricin - poison," was indeed the poison. It was found in a postal service distribution facility on Brozzini Court off of Pelham Road.
Based on the evidence obtained so far, we do not believe this is linked to terrorism but is related to threats criminal in nature, Brian Roehrkasse, spokesman for the Homeland Security Department told the Associated Press. The substance was in a small field watertight metal container, according to the CDC, and there was none found on the outside of the container.

There was no indicaton that employees were exposed, according to Azeezaly Jaffer, vice president of public affairs and communications for the postal service.
But the Postal Service closed the faiclity, sent emploeyes home and started environmental testing, Jaffer said.

Ricin is made from the castor bean plant. It is relatively easy to make and can be deadly in very small doses. When inhaled or ingested, fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness and low blood pressure can occur within eight hours. Death can come between 36 and 72 hours after exposure. There is no antidote.