Goldmember Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Ricin Found in University of Texas Dorm Associated Press Saturday, February 25, 2006 AUSTIN — A substance found by a University of Texas student at a dorm has tested positive for ricin, a potentially deadly poison, officials said. Two students were receiving medical attention for potential exposure, although neither has exhibited symptoms, said Dr. Theresa Spalding of UT Student Health Services. The chunky powder was found by one of them at the Moore-Hill dormitory Thursday afternoon and reported to university police. Preliminary tests came back positive for ricin Friday. School officials said they haven't determined where the ricin came from, UT police spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon said. The powder fell on the student's hands from a roll of quarters she unwrapped to use for laundry. The student's roommate is the other person who was receiving treatment; the quarters had been in their dorm room for several months, Spalding said. The dorm was sanitized and inspected, and students were cleared to return early Saturday, the university said. Health officials met with students and staff who were potentially exposed, but so far, none have shown any symptoms, the university said in a statement. Symptoms can include anything from difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea and sweating to severe vomiting and dehydration. "We were very concerned as soon as we heard about the positive testing late this evening," Spalding said Friday. Ricin is extracted from castor beans and can be added to food or water, injected or sprayed as an aerosol. It can be in the form of a powder, mist, pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186046,00.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Weird. I doubt many college students would want to have a little powder in the quarters investigated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted February 27, 2006 Author Share Posted February 27, 2006 Powder in Texas Dorm Not Ricin, FBI Says The FBI determined a powdery substance found in a roll of quarters at a University of Texas dormitory was not ricin after initial state tests had indicated it was the potentially deadly poison, a spokesman said Sunday. The FBI tests did not identify the substance, but they came back negative for the poison that is extracted from castor beans, said San Antonio FBI spokesman Rene Salinas. "There were no proteins in there to indicate it was in fact ricin," Salinas said. He said was unlikely further testing would be done. Texas health officials did "just a quick test and they don't check for the proteins in ricin," Salinas said. The mystery powder spilled onto Kelly Heinbaugh's hands as she unwrapped a roll of quarters in her dorm room on Thursday. She said she'd used five other rolls of quarters her mother had gotten from the same bank and none had powder in them. The a 19-year-old freshman and her roommate were both evaluated for possible exposure to ricin and cleared at a hospital. Roughly 400 residents of the Moore-Hill dormitory were evacuated Friday night while hazardous materials crews sanitized the area where the substance was found. Salinas said it was unclear whether the FBI would continue its investigation into how the substance ended up with the coins. If it was put there as a joke, Salinas said "it was an extremely bad joke." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060227/ap_on_re_us/ricin_dorm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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