«-- Odds 'n Sods: | Main | Letter Re: Alternative News Sources When The Grid Goes Down --»
Letter Re: A Reminder on the Terrorist Toxins Threat
Jim,
I bring this news story to your attention: Ricin
Found in Las Vegas Hotel Room; Man in Hospital
The Center
for Disease Control (CDC) protocols don't give one much hope if ricin is
inhaled or ingested. Unclothing and washing procedures for external contact
are not reassuring. Other sources indicate that skin contact is usually not
fatal unless accompanied by other agents that enhance absorption. [JWR
Adds: DMSO is
a well-known transdermal carrier.]
Other sources also indicate that ricin is 30 times more potent than VX nerve
gas. Full MOPP suit
and gas mask seem to be indicated to avoid aerosol exposure. Since the lapsed
time between exposure and onset of fatal symptoms can be hours and with no
existing antidote, this seems to be a particularly nasty agent to avoid.
It seems to me that for various reasons, one would be more likely to encounter
ricin in a terrorist event rather than the other CBR agents
that are usually mentioned. In any event, one might have to rely on the rain
gear and N95 particulate mask that should be in every BOB along
with the standard decontamination procedures that all should be thoroughly
familiar with.
Are there field detection resources and other related items that you might
recommend for an ai travel BOB which will be different from the vehicle BOB
left in the airport parking lot?
I think this has been covered before but it might be timely to reiterate it
again. Best Regards, - William D.
