No individuals appear to have been exposed to the poison, and the potentially contaminated areas have been evacuated, according to a joint press release issued Wednesday morning by the FBI and the Vermont departments of Public Safety and Health.
“At this time no one from the public is in danger,” the press release noted, describing the incident as “isolated.”
Ricin is a natural substance found in castor beans that, when turned into a powder and swallowed or inhaled, can cause symptoms as serious as respiratory failure and seizures.
The FBI said it isn’t releasing any additional information at this time.
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Hopefully this isn’t some sordid combination of too much Breaking Bad and lingering tensions from last weeks game of Bridge.
Hi. This is the second time today I saw the words “Toxic poison.” Is that an oxymoron? My wife whom I call the “grammer gestapo” says it is. Isn’t poison toxic by definition? I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for your article….Ralph of Windsor, VT
Adam Salem: A little bit funny, but not exactly putting yourself out there, is it? For instance, where is your own dad holing up, these days? I agree that we’ve all gotta go sometime. But, instead of using elderly Vermonters as targets of derisive glee, please try to envision that they might be entitled to as much safety and security as anyone else.
“Is that an oxymoron?”
No, it’s not an oxymoron. It’s redundant.
“grammer gestapo”
That would be grammar, with an “a.”
Cheers!
an oxymoron are words that are complete opposites put together to make a new meaning such as “pretty ugly” so in this case no, it is not an oxymoron because these words (toxic and poison) are synonymous.