Ricin Found in Student's Quarter Roll

Ok, now here's the scenario, as I understand it from reading today's MSNBC article: A University of Texas (Austin) student was doing laundry in her dorm with the requisite roll of quarters, when she discovered a white powdery substance on the quarters. The powder was tested for ricin and found to be positive for the toxin. I don't know about you, but if I'm doing laundry and find some white powder on my quarters, I'm going to assume it's laundry detergent, dust them off so they don't clog the coin slot, and get on with my life without giving the powder a second thought. I can't conceive of taking the quarters to the student nurse or security, and I certainly can't see their first thought being 'oh, I bet it's ricin'. I'm guessing there is much more to this story.

Anyway, if you're doing laundry and happen to find ricin on your quarters, you're probably pretty safe unless you're in the habit of licking your hands after doing the laundry. Ricin is a very potent poison, but it needs to be inhaled or ingested in order to harm you. It tends not to be absorbed across the skin of your hands. If ricin poisoning is suspected, it can be successfully treated. That being said, if you encounter a roll of coins that includes a powder, don't sniff or taste the powder, seal the roll in a ziploc bag, wash your hands, and contact your local authorities.
Learn about Ricin | What You Need to Know about Chemical Weapons