1.) Where is this substance found or produced? It is found in a castor bean
2.) What kind of substance is it? Powder
3.) What are the specific molecules that it acts upon? It acts upon the cytosol and can inactivate over 1,500 ribosomes per minute and kill the cell.
4.) What are the symptoms of exposure to this substance?
By ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, low blood pressure, seizures, and liver.
By inhalation causes difficulty breathing, fever, cough, nausea, heavy sweating, fluid in lungs and low blood pressure.
5.) How is exposure to this substance treated? If ricin gets on you get rid of your clothes and wash yourself by using large amount of soap and water. Then put away your clothes in a bag using a tong or any other tool then seal it into another bag and the local or state health department will take care if the rest.
Cited sources: http://www.medicinenet.com/ricin/article.htm
http://poisonousplants.ansci.cornell.edu/toxicagents/ricin.html
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