| Caption: |
This represents the sixth slide in a series highlighting the history, chemistry, and uses of ricin, a highly toxic poison made from castor beans. The slide, entitled, “Assassination of Georgi Markov, London, September, 1978”, states that an umbrella weapon was designed by the KGB’s Special Operations Office, which incorporated a gas-filled canister used to propel a 1.7mm platinum pellet, containing a 0.2mg dose of ricin, into the body of the intended target, in this case, Georgi Markov. The pellet was perforated, thereby, liberating the ricin, once it had perforated the skin. Pushing the trigger, located in the umbrella’s handle, fired the weapon. This presentation is copyrighted by Dr. Jonathan Burstein, MD, Anthony J. Carbone, MD, MPH, of the Harvard Center for Public Health Preparedness, Harvard School of Public Health. |
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