The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7231 p39
11 January 2003

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Public Health Laboratory Service: Ricin information (more)

Ricin found by police during raids on flats in London

Ricin, a protein toxin derived from the beans of the castor oil plant, was discovered by officers from the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorism branch during raids on premises in north and east London on 5 January. One of the flats raided was above Guardian Pharmacy in Wood Green. The pharmacy has no connection with the flats.

The Metropolitan Police and the Department of Health said in a joint statement issued on 8 January that a small amount of the material found at Wood Green had tested positive for the presence of ricin. Police said that investigations are continuing and called on the public to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious.

Department of Health guidance being sent to National Health Service organisations and pharmacy groups says that ricin inhibits protein synthesis and has widespread toxic effects on the body. These include damage to most organ systems and a combination of pulmonary, liver, renal and immunological failure may lead to death.

Early symptoms of ricin poisoning depend on the route of administration. They include fever, gastrointestinal upset and coughing. Absorption via the lungs as a result of exposure to aerosolised toxin leads to particularly serious lung damage including pulmonary oedema and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Ingestion of ricin causes irritation of the gut. The fatal dose by injection is thought to be around 1µg/kg.

Information on treating patients who may have deliberately been exposed to ricin can be found on the Public Health Laboratory Service website as a PDF file (80K). There is no antidote to ricin and only symptomatic and supportive treatment can be given. The effects of exposure to ricin may be delayed for some hours after exposure occurs.

  * PDF files on PJ Online require Acrobat Reader 4 or later.