Training center mistakenly exposed students to deadly ricin

Source: Associated Press

Kim Chandler, Associated Press

Updated 6:49 pm, Friday, December 16, 2016


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal terrorism response center in Alabama mistakenly used the lethal form of the toxin ricin as it trained thousands firefighters, paramedics and other emergency responders during the last five years.

The mix-up happened at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama, which trains first responders to deal with emergencies involving chemical, radiological, and biological hazards.

No students, who wear protective gear in the exercises, were reported harmed, but FEMA has asked the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General to investigate how the toxin came to be used in the exercises.

FEMA spokeswoman Alexa C. Lopez said a form of ricin that is safe for humans is supposed to be used in the training. She said staff last month discovered an "ongoing discrepancy in the documentation related to the type of ricin being provided." Staff ordered the safe version, but it appeared a supply vendor has been providing the lethal form of ricin to the center since 2011, she said in an email.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Training-center-mistakenly-exposed-students-to-10802129.php