The two most popular biological agents among terrorists are anthrax and ricin.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how we classify agents for threat assessment in HazMat contexts. Anthrax is a well-known biological agent because it’s a living organism (Bacillus anthracis) that can cause serious disease. Ricin, while not a living organism, is a highly potent toxin derived from castor beans and is included in many threat frameworks alongside biological agents because it originates from a biological source, can be produced relatively easily, and can cause severe harm with small quantities. Because of these factors—availability, potency, and the potential for dissemination—both are frequently cited as major threat agents in terrorist scenarios. So, in the usual safety and security definitions used for this topic, the statement is true. If you were using a narrower definition that excludes toxins, it would be false, but the common HazMat/biological threat classification includes toxins like ricin.