Gujarat ATS recently arrested three men, including a doctor, for attempting to produce ricin for a suspected terror attack targeting public locations in multiple cities.

About Ricin

• Ricin is a highly toxic protein-based poison extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis (castor) plant.
  • The plant is native to tropical Africa, specifically the Ethiopian region, but it is also considered indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin and India.
• Ricin occurs in the solid residue of castor seeds, which are widely used in industrial castor oil production.
• Extraction: Castor beans contain 30–60% oil, and the remaining solid fraction holds 1–5% ricin.
  • The toxin can be extracted with relatively simple methods, increasing misuse risk.
• Toxicity: Even 1 mg of ricin can be fatal when ingested by an adult.
  • After absorption, ricin binds to ribosomes, halting protein synthesis and causing cell death.
• Impact on Health:
  • Ingestion: Causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms, low blood pressure, hallucinations, and eventual organ failure.
  • Injection or Inhalation: Leads to rapid systemic collapse; inhalation causes chest tightness, cough, and respiratory distress.
• Treatment Challenges: No antidote exists; treatment is supportive, including induced vomiting or gastric lavage if done early.
  • Rare occurrence delays diagnosis, complicating clinical management.
• Regulation: Listed as a Schedule 1 toxin under the Chemical Weapons Convention due to extremely high misuse potential.

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About Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

• CWC is a global disarmament treaty that bans the development, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons and mandates their verified elimination.
• Establishment: The  Convention entered into force in April 1997.
• Implemented By: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), headquartered in The Hague, which oversees verification.
  • OPCW won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
• Schedules of Chemicals Under CWC
  • Schedule 1: Contains extremely lethal agents like Sarin and ricin with tightly restricted production and transfer.
  • Schedule 2: Includes precursors with limited commercial use requiring declarations and inspections.
  • Schedule 3: Covers dual-use industrial chemicals like phosgene requiring large-scale production reporting.
• India’s Status: India is an original signatory and active State Party to the CWC, complying fully with its verification and disarmament obligations.

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