Posted on 02/25/2006 4:48:19 AM PST by genefromjersey
Edited on 02/25/2006 5:53:54 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
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.
I was referring to ricin. Can it really be prepared without one doing so deliberately?
Don't know why but my B.S. meter is spiking...........
From museum.gov:
"TYPICAL POISONING SCENARIO:
Accidental consumption quantities of seeds or products containing castor oil by livestock or children. Aside from their use in lubricants, soaps & varnishes, Castor Beans are often seen in jewellery from the Caribbean; children are sometimes poisoned by sucking or eating beads made from the beans. Another possible cause of poisoning is an overdose of castor-oil based laxative, especially amongst persons who mistakenly equate absolutely regular bowel habits with good health. Please warn great uncle Oliver to go easy on that stuff, OK?"
Anyway, this could well be true. It reminds me of two cases. Possibly the first foreign terrorist attack occurred around 1985 in Oregon when a cult (Rajneeshee) from India caused food poisoning for over 700 person in order to keep them from voting so that they could win at the polls. The government covered it up, for whatever reason, which now only makes us suspect further coverups.
In 2005, after a 16 year battle, a Charenjiit Singh, who was linked two terrorist groups in India, was finally deported. Yes, it took 16 years largely because an immigration judge granted him permanent resident status even though Singh admitted to belonging to two Indian terrorist groups (Babbar Khalsa and Khalistan Commando Force).
As far as making it, one might buy a few bottles of the oil and send it to a processor, the example below is not meant to imply that the company will process this oil, it is included only as a means to show that there are ways to turn an oil into a powder:
O2P Powders - The functionality you've been waiting for.
Free-flowing powders from oil - without tumble dry, micro-encapsulation, freeze-drying or spray drying.
The NPRI process makes it happen.
A proprietary process allows NPRI to transform most edible oils into a powder form that is more effective, more appealing and more flexible to package than existing powders.
You Name it. We'll convert it!
Thanks for replying.
But is the poisoning due to ricin? If yes, then ricin should have been a pretty common murder weapon. If not, then there is something about it that makes it difficult to be manufactured/procured by the common criminal.
No paranoia. If you knew what line of work I was in, you'd understand.
The beans are highly poisonous, and children and animals are at risk.
OK thanks. I replied before reading your second post. Hence the doubt.
ping
ping
If you knew my expertise you'd understand why your action is hysterical.
"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."
Good grief...nothing like erring on the side of caution...(rolling eyes)
I prefer Fava beans and a nice Chianti...Please don't report me.
Thanks for the ping... BFLR for further developments. This is a strange story, isn't it?
LOL! Only if I can join you with a bit of butter-braised, human tongue.
The person probably reports infants in strollers without helmets as well.
>>>I see Castor Bean Plants growing in peoples' gardens all the time, and I report each occurrence to the DHS
You report people gardens to DHS??!!
Stay away from my garden.
bttt
LOL! I promise.
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