Universal Detection Technology To Commence The Marketing Of Its Ricin Detection Equipment To The Agriculture Industry

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 23 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Universal Detection Technology (OTCBB: UNDT) (FRANKFURT: PO8), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats and provider of counter-terrorism consulting and training services, announced today that it will begin marketing its Ricin detection equipment to the agriculture industry. The equipment can be used to test the safety of waste products left over from biodiesel production, in particular biodiesel synthesized from Castor Oil.

Castor Oil is the best substance for producing biodiesel because it is the only one that is soluble in alcohol, and does not require heat and the consequent energy requirement of other vegetable oils in transforming them into fuel. Biodiesel, chemically known as an esther, is the result of the reaction between any oily acid with ethyl (ethanol) or methyl (methanol) alcohol. In Europe and the United States, nearly two billion liters of biodiesel are consumed annually.

European and U.S. farmers have created national and international associations to promote this alternative fuel, which reduces urban air pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the burning of fossil fuels.

Ricin is a toxin that can be made from the waste left over from processing castor beans. It is one of the most toxic and easily produced plant toxins. If injected, as little as 500 micrograms of Ricin could be enough to kill an adult; some animal research indicates that similar amounts could be lethal, if inhaled. UNDT's Ricin detection equipment has been designed to detect trace amounts of Ricin in as little as 3 minutes.

"The marketing of our Ricin detection equipment to the agriculture industry marks another cross-over opportunity for our detection equipment," said Mr. Jacques Tizabi, UNDT's Chief Executive Officer. "We plan to aggressively market the product to both the domestic and international biodiesel industry," he added.

For more information please visit our website at http://www.udetection.com.

About Universal Detection Technology

Universal Detection Technology is a developer of monitoring technologies, including bioterrorism detection devices. The Company on its own and with development partners is positioned to capitalize on opportunities related to Homeland Security. For example, the Company, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a bacterial spore detector that detects certain biohazard substances. The Company is also a reseller of handheld assays used for detection of five bioterrorism agents, radiation detection systems, and antimicrobial products. For more information, please visit http://www.udetection.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievement in the future to differ materially from forecasted results, performance, and achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the Company's plans or expectations.

Universal Detection Technology