

Ricin may enter the body through the skin when combined with certain chemicals or if the skin is damaged. People can also be poisoned by swallowing ricin-contaminated food or water. People can be poisoned by breathing in ricin mist or powder. It would take a deliberate act to use it as a poison. How can people be exposed to ricin?Īccidental exposure to ricin is highly unlikely. Ricin has some potential medical uses in treating cancer. Ricin is part of the waste "mash" produced when castor oil is made.

Where is ricin found, and how is it used?Ĭastor beans are grown and processed throughout the world to make castor oil. It is a stable substance and does not break down easily in typical indoor or outdoor temperatures. As a terrorism agent, ricin can be used as a powder, a mist, a pellet, or can be dissolved in water or weak acid. Ricin (rye-sin) is a chemical poison present in castor beans. All Health Care Professionals & Patient SafetyĪ copy of The Facts About Ricin is available in Portable Document Format (PDF, 57K, 3pg.) What is ricin?.Clinical Guidelines, Standards & Quality of Care.Health & Safety in the Home, Workplace & Outdoors.Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records.
