Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov's murder drew attention to the potential of ricin as a weapon Image: picture-alliance/dpa The poison can only be inhaled or injected when it is isolated and processed accordingly. The poison itself is therefore more likely to be obtained from what remains from oil production. The highly laxative oil is non-toxic and is used in medicine and cosmetic products. The castor oil is actually extracted from the tree's seeds. Only when the child has chewed the bean or has it in his stomach for a long time can an increased release of the poison occur. This is because only a small amount of the poison is released from an intact seed. The reddish-brown, bean-shaped seeds of the castor beans are not dangerous in themselves, even if a child has put a bean in his mouth or swallowed it, the poisoning is usually mild. The castor oil plant protects its seeds from predators with ricin. Castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa and India, but is widespread throughout tropical regions. The poison is found in the seeds of Ricinus communis, the castor bean or castor oil plant. The castor oil plant protects its seeds from predators with ricin Image: picture-alliance/blickwinkel/C. There are only a few people in the world who are immune to ricin. The first symptoms appear after only a few hours after oral intake, usually within 48 hours. whether via the respiratory tract, the stomach or the skin. Read more: What does the chemical weapons watchdog OPCW do?Īccording to RKI, the incubation period depends on the dose and the way in which one comes into contact with the poison - i.e. Ricin can also paralyze the respiratory tract death from cardiovascular shock or organ failure occurs within a few days. As a result, the central nervous system, kidneys, liver and other organs fail. ![]() Symptoms of poisoning like high fever, drop in blood pressure, increased heart rate, vomiting and bloody diarrhea are delayed. Once the body is exposed to the poison, ricin binds to sugar molecules that are attached to the surfaces of the body cells. Injected, inhaled or swallowed, the colorless and odorless poison prevents the body from producing vital proteins. ![]() Depending on how you take up the substance, even small quantities amounting to less than a milligram is fatal.Īccording to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the toxic effect can occur orally, through the skin, the stomach and inhalation. Ricin is one of the most dangerous toxins found in nature.
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