What are the symptoms of exposure to ricin?
Ricin inhibits cells from creating necessary protein, which causes the cells to die. If ricin were ingested into the digestive system the following effects would occur: fever, thirst, headache, sore throat, and dilated pupils. Within two days of the ingestion severe dehydration and loss of blood pressure will occur. Ricin can also be inhaled if made into an aerosol. This, although it can occur naturally would most likely be due to a bio-chemical attack. Inhalation of ricin has the following effects: weakness, fever, cough, nausea, chest tightness and pulmonary edema all within 24 hours to exposure. Severe respiratory distress and failure will occur soon within days. Liquid ricin can also be mixed with a solution of solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to make it absorb through skin having the same deadly effect.
