FBI confirms that ricin was not found at the University of Texas

Saturday, February 25, 2006

The FBI has confirmed that the chunky substance discovered in the Moore-Hill dormitory at the University of Texas on Thursday is not the poison ricin.

Ricin is one of the most deadly poisons in the world and can exist in the form of a pellet, mist, or powder. Some symptoms of exposure can include vomiting and dehydration, sweating, nausea, fever, cough and difficulty of breathing.

An earlier report by the Associated Press had said tests had found the substance might be ricin. Such tests are designed to error on the side of caution, thus ensuring that possible poisoning victims receive treatment in time.

Last year there were similar false positive reports of ricin in London, which were further publicized by Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

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Sources

Wikipedia

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Ricin

AP. "FBI says substance found in dorm wasn't ricin" — KTEN.com, February 26, 2006
Sylvia Moreno. "Analyses of Powder in Texas Dorm Are Inconclusive" — The Washington Post, February 25, 2006
"Authorities: Powder in dorm likely not ricin" — CNN, February 25, 2006
Walter Pincus. "London Ricin Finding Called a False Positive" — Washington Post, April 14, 2005

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