How is ricin associated with bioterrorism?
Ricin is toxic by several routes, including inhalation, ingestion, and injection. Bioterrorists might poison water or food, inoculate persons directly via ricin-laced projectiles, or aerosolize liquid ricin or lyophilized powder. Ricin has been used as a biological weapon for assassinations, but has never been used to harm groups of people. A very large quantity of ricin would be needed for a large-scale attack. Ricin poisoning is not contagious. It cannot be spread from one person to another. Ricin is not sarin! People sometimes confuse ricin with sarin because the names are somewhat similar. Sarin is a lethal chemical (cholinesterase inhibitor) that was developed as a pesticide. It can be a gas or a liquid, and can kill humans in very small doses after exposure through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Symptoms can occur within seconds after vapor exposure, and in 30 minutes to 18 hours after exposure to liquid sarin. It can be treated with atrophin and other measures. What are
