MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A possible hazardous material that prompted the evacuation of a Minneapolis apartment complex and injured a University of Minnesota student could be ricin, the FBI said Wednesday. The bureau said that a preliminary test by the Minnesota Department of Health lab of the material found in an apartment “indicated the presumptive potential presence of ricin.” The FBI also said the female student “may have been intentionally handling the material.” Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans. The FBI said evidence will be sent to the bureau’s lab in Virginia for positive identification. The @FBIMinneapolis continues to investigate the substance found at a Dinkytown apartment. Prelim tests by @mnhealth show possible presence of ricin, a poisonous toxin found in castor beans. Further testing to happen at FBI HQ in Quantico, VA. @WCCO https://t.co/LQvDyxjP2M pic.twitter.com/GheBE6dxn0 — Jeff Wagner (@Jeff_Wagner4) May 8, 2019 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that it would take a deliberate act to make ricin to poison people and unintentional exposure to the poison is highly unlikely, except through the ingestion of castor beans. The toxin is relatively easy to make. When ricin is extracted and purified, it can be used as a weapon capable of causing death. A few milligrams are enough to kill an adult if it’s eaten, injected or inhaled. Early symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties and coughing. Ricin kills the body’s cells by preventing them from creating protein. Emergency crews were called Tuesday to The Marshall, a 316-unit complex that caters to students at the nearby university. The complex was evacuated but residents were allowed to return after authorities determined there was no danger to the public. The student remains hospitalized. Residents now allowed back into The Marshall Apt in Dinkytown, roughly 5.5 hrs after woman went to hospital claiming possible ricin exposure. Police say her condition is not life threatening. Substance removed from her apt. That room remains secure tonight. Live @kare11 at 10p pic.twitter.com/eF6iZevUP4 — Kent Erdahl (@kenterdahl) May 8, 2019<doc-sep>The Minneapolis Fire Department says they were called to the report of a hazardous substance at 515 14th Avenue SE. MINNEAPOLIS — One person was hospitalized after an "unconfirmed report of ricin" at a Dinkytown apartment building, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department. Minneapolis Fire says crews were called to 515 14th Avenue SE Tuesday afternoon on a report of a hazardous substance. Crews evacuated the apartment building and isolated the affected area, according to Minneapolis Fire's Twitter account. Residents were allowed back into the apartment late evening Tuesday. The apartment in the original incident has been secured and was being guarded by the Minneapolis Police Department overnight. Wednesday, police told KARE 11 that the FBI is now in charge of the investigation. The fire department tells KARE 11 that one resident was transported to the hospital. According to the CDC, ricin is a poison naturally found in castor beans, and if chewed and swallowed it can be dangerous. But it can also be in the form of a powder, mist or pellet. Within a few hours of inhaling ricin, a person would likely have trouble breathing, fever, cough and nausea. It can ultimately lead to death. The CDC also says there is no antidote for ricin, which is why it's so important to avoid exposure to it.<doc-sep>DINKYTOWN, MN — Minneapolis fire says crews are evacuating an apartment and the surrounding area in Dinkytown following an "unconfirmed report of ricin." The building is located on the 500 block of 14th Ave Southeast. One resident was taken to an area hospital before fire crews arrived. According to the Centers for Disease Control, "if castor beans are chewed and swallowed, the released ricin can cause injury." Patch will update this story as more information is made available.<doc-sep>
"Central to the ongoing FBI investigation is how the female who went to the hospital came into contact with this potentially dangerous material." The FBI says a possible hazardous material that prompted the evacuation of a Minneapolis apartment complex and injured a University of Minnesota student could be ricin. The FBI says test results "indicated the presumptive potential presence of ricin" in substance found in the Minneapolis apartment. On Tuesday, a person was hospitalized after "unconfirmed reports of ricin" at the Dinkytown apartment building, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department. The FBI also says the female student "may have been intentionally handling the material." The student remains hospitalized. Emergency crews were called Tuesday to The Marshall, at 515 14th Avenue SE, a 316-unit complex that caters to students at the nearby university. The complex was evacuated but residents were allowed to return after authorities determined there was no danger to the public. "Central to the ongoing FBI investigation is how the female who went to the hospital came into contact with this potentially dangerous material. Early indications from the ongoing investigation reveal the female likely did not come into contact with the material in a random fashion; meaning she may have been intentionally handling the material. Given this early information and the ongoing investigation, we do not believe the general public is at risk at this time given the likelihood the material was confined to the single apartment in question and that it was likely not being used for any criminal activity," according to a news release.