**Article Based on Provided Video Transcription**
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A suspect was arrested today for sending letters laced with "risin" to President Obama and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker. So, what is risin? How is it made, and what makes it so deadly? Anthony here for D News.
Risin is a poison found in castor beans. The castor bean is used to create castor oil, which has been used as a medicine all the way back to Ancient Egypt. However, risin is made from the stuff that's left over after the castor beans are processed.
Risin can come in a powder, mist, or pellet form. It’s dangerous when you inhale it, ingest it, or if it’s injected. One of the most famous uses of risin was during the Cold War in 1978. This writer was jabbed with an umbrella tip that injected a risin pellet into his body in the 1980s. It was reported to be used as a warfare agent, likely a gas in Iraq.
Risin works by getting into the cells of a person’s body and stopping them from making proteins. Without proteins, cells begin to die. One of the most dangerous things about risin is that the symptoms from poisoning start looking like a cold or flu—trouble breathing, nausea, coughing, fever. If you ingest it, vomiting and diarrhea can occur. However, risin isn’t contagious. You can’t get symptoms just by touching it, but it can cause redness or pain if it gets in your skin or eyes.
The danger in contact with risin is that you could touch it or touch someone who has it on them and then transfer some of it to yourself through touching food and eating it. Ingesting a large amount of it can be fatal within 36 to 72 hours.
Another dangerous thing about risin is that there’s no real antidote. The only way to counter it is for doctors to remove as much of it from an exposed person’s system as they can and then just treat the actual symptoms.
Something important to note here is that it’s not likely that someone trying to spread risin through the mail would succeed because letters sent to elected officials and large government offices are screened at secret outside facilities. If you or someone you know works in a government building and have been worried about this, there are procedures in place to protect you against this sort of thing.
But if you’re still freaking out about it, you can absolutely air your concerns below, answer any questions, or during our Google Plus Hangout coming up Tuesday, April 23rd at 4 PM Pacific time. Trace and I will be there to answer all your questions about this, about science, about life in general.
We’ve got a link down below for more info if you want to join us, and don’t forget to subscribe for more D News.
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**Note:** This article is based on the full transcription provided and includes all key points without summarizing or condensing the content. Each section has been expanded for readability while maintaining the original information.
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ryonAll The Way Back to Ancient Egypt ryonAll The Way Back to Ancient Egypt ryonis Made from the Stuff That's left overis Made from the Stuff That's left overis Made from the Stuff That's left overafter The Caster Beans are processedafter The Caster Beans are processedafter The Caster Beans are processedryon can come in a Powder Mist or aryon can come in a Powder Mist or aryon can come in a Powder Mist or apellet form It's Dangerous When youpellet form It's Dangerous When youpellet form It's Dangerous When youinhale it If you ingest it Or If It'sinhale it If you ingest it Or If It'sinhale it If you ingest it Or If It'sinjected One of the most famous uses ofinjected One of the most famous uses ofinjected One of the most famous uses ofrisin was during the Cold War in 1978risin was during the Cold War in 1978risin was during the Cold War in 1978When this Writer was jabbed with anWhen this Writer was jabbed with anWhen this Writer was jabbed with anumbrella tip that injected a ryon pelletumbrella tip that injected a ryon pelletumbrella tip that injected a ryon pelletinto his body in the 1980s It wasinto his body in the 1980s It wasinto his body in the 1980s It wasreported used as a Warfare Agent mostreported used as a Warfare Agent mostreported used as a Warfare Agent mostlikely a Gas in iraq and IT Works bylikely a Gas in iraq and IT Works bylikely a Gas in iraq and IT Works bygetting Into the cells of a person bodygetting Into the cells of a person bodygetting Into the cells of a person bodyand stopping them from making proteinsand stopping them from making proteinsand stopping them from making proteinsWithout proteins cells begin to Die OneWithout proteins cells begin to Die OneWithout proteins cells begin to Die Oneof the most dangerous Things about Rinof the most dangerous Things about Rinof the most dangerous Things about Rinis that the symptoms from the poisoningis that the symptoms from the poisoningis that the symptoms from the poisoningstart looking like a Cold or a flustart looking like a Cold or a flustart looking like a Cold or a fluTrouble breathing nausea coughing FeverTrouble breathing nausea coughing FeverTrouble breathing nausea coughing FeverAnd If you ingest it vomiting andAnd If you ingest it vomiting andAnd If you ingest it vomiting anddiarrhea Rice and poisoning isn'tdiarrhea Rice and poisoning isn'tdiarrhea Rice and poisoning isn'tcontagious and You Can' t Get symptomscontagious and You Can' t Get symptomscontagious and You Can' t Get symptomsfrom Just touching Rin though it Couldfrom Just touching Rin though it Couldfrom Just touching Rin though it CouldCause redness or Pain if it gets in yourCause redness or Pain if it gets in yourCause redness or Pain if it gets in yourskin or In Your Eyes the Danger Inskin or In Your Eyes the Danger Inskin or In Your Eyes the Danger Incontact With It is that You could Touchcontact With It is that You could Touchcontact With It is that You could Touchit Or Touch someone that has It On themit Or Touch someone that has It On themit Or Touch someone that has It On themand then transfer some of it to Yourselfand then transfer some of it to Yourselfand then transfer some of it to Yourselfthrough touching Food and then eating itthrough touching Food and then eating itthrough touching Food and then eating itining Or inting a large amount of it Canining Or inting a large amount of it Canining Or inting a large amount of it Canbe Fatal Within 36 to 72 Hours The Otherbe Fatal Within 36 to 72 Hours The Otherbe Fatal Within 36 to 72 Hours The OtherDangerous about Ron is that there's NoDangerous about Ron is that there's NoDangerous about Ron is that there's NoReal antidote The only way to Counter ItReal antidote The only way to Counter ItReal antidote The only way to Counter Itis for Doctors to remove as much of itis for Doctors to remove as much of itis for Doctors to remove as much of itfrom an exposed person System as Theyfrom an exposed person System as Theyfrom an exposed person System as Theycan and then Just treat The actualcan and then Just treat The actualcan and then Just treat The actualsymptoms Something important to Notesymptoms Something important to Notesymptoms Something important to Notehere is that It's Not likely thathere is that It's Not likely thathere is that It's Not likely thatsomeone trying to spread ryon throughsomeone trying to spread ryon throughsomeone trying to spread ryon throughthe mail would succeed Because lettersthe mail would succeed Because lettersthe mail would succeed Because letterssent to elected officials and largesent to elected officials and largesent to elected officials and largegovernment Offices are screened at Thesegovernment Offices are screened at Thesegovernment Offices are screened at TheseSecret outside facilities so If you orSecret outside facilities so If you orSecret outside facilities so If you orsomeone you know works in a governmentsomeone you know works in a governmentsomeone you know works in a governmentBuilding and You've Been worried youBuilding and You've Been worried youBuilding and You've Been worried youshould know that There are procedures inshould know that There are procedures inshould know that There are procedures inplace to protect you Against this sortplace to protect you Against this sortplace to protect you Against this sortof thing but if You're Still freakingof thing but if You're Still freakingof thing but if You're Still freakingout About It You can Absolutely Air yourout About It You can Absolutely Air yourout About It You can Absolutely Air yourconcerns down below answer Any Questionsconcerns down below answer Any Questionsconcerns down below answer Any Questionsyou have or during our Google Plusyou have or during our Google Plusyou have or during our Google PlusHangout That's Coming Up Tuesday AprilHangout That's Coming Up Tuesday AprilHangout That's Coming Up Tuesday April23rd at 4 PM Pacific trace lacy and I23rd at 4 PM Pacific trace lacy and I23rd at 4 PM Pacific trace lacy and IWill Be There to answer All YourWill Be There to answer All YourWill Be There to answer All YourQuestions about this about Science aboutQuestions about this about Science aboutQuestions about this about Science aboutLife in General we've got a link downLife in General we've got a link downLife in General we've got a link downbelow for more info If you want to joinbelow for more info If you want to joinbelow for more info If you want to joinus and Don't forget to subscribe forus and Don't forget to subscribe forus and Don't forget to subscribe formore Dmore Dmore DNews\n"
