Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory

Yahoo News & AP ^ | February 25, 2006

[genefromjersey]

Updated story from Yahoo News & AP:

Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory

AUSTIN - A University of Texas student found a substance that has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, in a roll of quarters she was using to do laundry in her dormitory, officials said.

The student and her roommate were being treated for potential exposure to the poison, although neither has exhibited symptoms, said Dr. Theresa Spalding of UT Student Health Services.

The student told university police she found the chunky powder Thursday as she was doing her laundry at the Moore-Hill dormitory, Spalding said. Preliminary tests for ricin came back positive Friday.

"We were very concerned as soon as we heard about the positive testing late this evening," Spalding said. She said the quarters had been in the students' dorm room for several months.

Ricin is extracted from castor beans and can be added to food or water, injected or sprayed as an aerosol. It can be in the form of a powder, mist, pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid.

Symptoms can include anything from difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea and sweating to severe vomiting and dehydration.

The dorm was sanitized and inspected, and students were cleared to return, the university said.

Ricin Discovered in Texas Dormitory

____

AUSTIN - A substance discovered by a student in a University of Texas dormitory has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, officials said.

The chunky powder was found at the Moore-Hill dormitory Thursday and reported to university police, officials said. Tests for ricin came back positive Friday. Officials don't know where it came from, said campus police spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I see Castor Bean Plants growing in peoples' gardens all the time, and I report each occurrence to the DHS folks in Harrisburg. They visit the site and inform the owners about the dangerous by-product, who usually cut them down.

Making Ricin from the pressed seeds is extremely easy, BTW.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Many college students don't use cash anymore - instead they use a debit card set up for buying food - on campus and off. For instance, to spur business, a pizza place offers to accept the college debit card points for payment.

Besides, it would take quite a few quarters to pay for a pizza these days.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Even for dormitory laundry - the cards are used.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"Isn't that where that yucky castor oil comes from people used to medicate with?"

Yep. One and the same. I agree; Yuck!

I love the plant. They're so pretty and tropical looking. :)

[Rte66]

Ah, OK. It said "Chesterfield County" at the start, so I was trying to clarify where in the county it is. I didn't see Chesterfield noted as the town or city. Thanks for the correction.

[Rte66]

Agreed. I couldn't help thinking, though, if he'd been raised here, he would definitely have been nicknamed "Sewer Rat."

[pepsionice]

I'd be questioning the student. Something about this story sounds bogus.

[Doohickey]

Just trying to help. Folks from outside of Virginia find us hard to figure out. We just call it "Southside" here. Anyway, Chesterfield is immediately south of Richmond, VA.

[null and void]

Terrorists/jerks could put ricin powder into rolls of coins...deposit at a bank along with other currency/checks...and let it travel.

I know of no bank that will accept a roll of coins without an account number on the roll.

This could get interesting and illuminating.

[Doe Eyes]

Where did you find that Sewraz is from Mauritania?

Every source I found said he was from Mauritius.

[null and void]

I blew it! You're correct.

[null and void]

I've asked the mod squad to pull it.

Good catch, Thanks!

[peyton randolph]

The Dreaded Dihydrogenmonoxide!

Read that and got thirsty for some reason. ;-) 

[LA Woman3]

From the Daily Texan...the UT school newspaper.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/media/paper410/news/2006/02/24/TopStories/Ricin.Found.In.MooreHill.Dorm-1637566.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.dailytexanonline.com&page=1

Ricin found in Moore-Hill dorm

Deadly toxin first discovered Thursday;2 students receiving precautionary treatment

By Kathy Adams, Ricardo Lozano, Patrick George, Mark Yeh

Two female students from Moore-Hill dormitory were still being treated late Friday for Ricin exposure after coming into contact with the toxin Thursday afternoon, law enforcement and UT officials said.

Students began evacuating the dorm shortly after 11 p.m. when University Residence Hall resident assistants began knocking door-to-door evacuating residents.

According to authorities, no other students are exhibiting symptoms of exposure to Ricin, a protein-inhibitor that can lead to death or serious injury, which has been used as a biological warfare agent. Authorities would not release the names of the girls involved.

"There is no threat coming from this," said Theresa Spalding, associate director of Student Health Services. "The authorities do not believe there is any type of terroristic plot against the University of Texas."

Moore-Hill dormitory is now a crime scene and a criminal investigation is under way, said Dr. Adolfo Valadez, medical director of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department.

The toxin was first discovered around 2:30 p.m. Thursday when one of the students who received treatment discovered a white powder after opening a roll of quarters from a non-local bank to do laundry on the first floor, Spalding said. The quarters had been in her dorm room on the second floor for several months, Spalding said. The powder fell out on the student's hands, which she washed immediately before reporting the incident to the UT Police Department, Spalding said.

Workers from the University Environmental Health and Safety Department cleaned and decontaminated the area Thursday afternoon, according to a UTPD press release. Firefighters from the AFD Special Operations Hazardous Materials Regional Strike Team in full-body, silver hazardous material suits were also seen entering the building along with other emergency personnel at the scene Friday evening.

Although they are still receiving medical attention, the girl and her roommate are not exhibiting any symptoms of Ricin exposure that would usually develop within 36 hours, Spalding said.

The decision to evacuate was made more than 24 hours after the powder was first found because samples of the substance had to be expedited to a lab in Atlanta, Spalding said. The substance was reported back from the lab as Ricin from preliminary tests, Valadez said.

Students were still able to access the exposed areas of Moore-Hill, including the first floor laundry room. No areas were closed until the dorm was evacuated at 11 p.m.

"It's bad luck and bad timing," said Chao Zhang, a finance senior whose clothes were in a washing machine in the quarantined area. "Hopefully I'll get them back tomorrow and I won't have to go shopping any time soon."

After being evacuated, students were informed of the details about the contamination in Jester Auditorium and were allowed back into the dorm by midnight.

"I live on the second floor - if I can get back in my room then we're just going to go hang out; we're not worried," said Jenna Delaney, a business administration sophomore.

Initially, students were allowed into all areas of the dorm, but were later forced to leave certain areas as decontamination teams, in full-body suits and oxygen tanks, swept the building, beginning around 12:30 p.m. The laundry room was still sealed off early Saturday morning.

Twenty-first Street was closed off from the Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium to Speedway Avenue during the evacuation and decontamination.

Ricin exposure occurs through ingestion or inhalation. Symptoms include severe respiratory problems, severe nausea, bloody vomit, bloody diarrhea and eventual death, Valadez said. Ricin is not contagious and cannot be absorbed through the skin, he said.

The Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, EMS and UT Police Department were called to the area after the substance was confirmed to be Ricin.

[SuzyQue]

No kidding. I was there Thursday and Friday. This is the first I've heard.

[LA Woman3]

Members of the Austin Fire Department Special Operations Hazardous Materials Regional Strike Team are stripped of their gloves after leaving Moore-Hill Dormitory early Saturday morning after investigating the presence of Ricin, a toxin that was discovered by a Moore-Hill resident Thursday in a roll of quarters.

[Old Professer]

Just like tea or bean soup.

[Old Professer]

More than one exotic animal owner has discovered to his dismay that common plants are poisonous; monkeys have a fatal fondness for oleander leaves, for example.

[steve86]

I see Castor Bean Plants growing in peoples' gardens all the time, and I report each occurrence to the DHS folks in Harrisburg.

You ought to get your paranoia treated and find another hobby to occupy your time.