SUBSCRI

BE

10commonpoi
sonouspl
ant
sandhowt
oident
if
ythem

Medi
cal
l
yrev
iewedbyDar
raghO'
Car
rol
l
,MD—Wr
it
tenbySar
ahChar
mleyonMay13,
2022

Pi
ctur
es

Poi
soni
vy,
oak,
andsumac

Gi
anthogweed

Daf
fodi
l

Poi
sonheml
ock

Cast
orbean

Manchi
neel

Ol
eander

Ji
msonweed

Si
gnsandsy
mpt
oms

Nextst
eps

Tr
eat
ment

Summar
y

Poisonousplantsarepr
esentinmostcult
ivat
edgardens.Evenver
ycommonplantst
hatgr
ow
fr
om ornament albul
bshavethecapaci
tytopoisoni
featen.Poi
sonouspl
ant
sincl
udepoi
son
oak,daff
odi
ls,andgianthogweed.

Touchi
ngsomeplantsaps,stems,orleav
esmaycauseaskinrash.Par
tsofmanyplantsmay
l
eadtosever
egastr
ointesti
nalupseti
featen.I
ngest
ingsomepl
antsmayresul
tinheart
probl
emsorner
voussyst em i
ssues.

Thi
sarti
clewi
ll
cover10poisonouspl
ant
s,t
hei
rident
if
iabl
efeat
ures,
andwhatt
odoi
faper
son
orpethascomeint
ocontactwitht
hem.
Pi
ctur
es

VI
EW GALLERY

10

Poi
soni
vy,
oak,
andsumac

Poisoni
vy,
oak,andsumaccont
ainasubst
ancecal
l
edur
ushi
oli
nthest
ems,
root
s,v
ines,
fl
owers,
andleaves.

Exposuretourushiol
canr
esul
tint
hebodydev
elopi
ngarash.Thesev
eri
tyoft
her
ashdepends
onthelengthoftimeaper
sonhasbeeni
ncontactwi
thi
t.

TheCent
ersforDi
seaseCont
rol
andPr
event
ion(
CDC)
Trust
edSour
cenot
ethatt
hepl
ant
sgr
ow
i
nthefol
l
owingplaces:

Poisonivy
:Itgrowsinbackyardsorinwoodl
and,
andpeopl
ecant
ypicall
yfi
nditgr
owingup
fences,
walls,ort
rees.Theplantgr
owsinall
stat
esoft
heUnit
edStates,
exceptHawaii
and
Alaska.

Poi
sonoak:I
tgrowsi
nbackyar
dsori
nwoodlandandspreadswhenbir
dseattheber
ri
es.The
poi
sonouspl
antismost
lyl
ocat
edinwest
ernU.S.
,al
thoughther
eisasout
heaster
nvari
ant
.

Poi
sonsumac:
Itgr
owsi
nwetorswampar
easandgr
owsmai
nlyi
nEast
ernst
ates.

Howt
oident
if
y

Aper
soncanuset
hef
oll
owi
ngt
abl
etohel
pident
if
ypoi
soni
vy,
oak,
andsumac.

Descr
ipt
ion Spr
ingSummer Fal
l Wi
nter

SumacAr edstem wit

h7–13l
eavesTr
ust
edSour
ceperst
em. Smal
lgreenber
ri
est
hatar
e
notper
fectl
yround,wi
thgr
eenl
eaves. Sameasinspri
ng. Whi
teberri
es

andr
ed-
orangel
eav
es. Thel
eav
esdr
op,
butt
hebar
kisst
il
lpoi
sonous.

I
vy Youngpl
ant
shav
ereddi
shl
eav
es.
Matur
eplant
shavegreenl
eav
es,butt
henewleavesar
ered. Smal
lcl
ustersofgreenbuds.
Small
greeni
sh-
whit
ebloomswit
hanorangecent
re. Pal
egr
eenberr
iesform andthen
tur
nwhit
e.

Thel
eav
est
urnr
ed,
orange,
ory
ell
ow. Thel
eav
esdr
op,
butt
hebar
kisst
il
lpoi
sonous.

Oak Lobedl eav

est hatl
ooksimilartooakleaves.Usual
l
yinthrees. Leav esthatar
egr een
andshinyandmayhav evar
yingredparts. Cluster
sofsmallgreenflowers. Leavesthat
tur
nreddish. Theleavesdrop,butthecinnamon-col
oredbar
kisst i
ll
poisonous.

Lear
nmor
eaboutpoi
sonoak,
poi
soni
vy,
andpoi
sonsumacr
ashesandhowt
otr
eatt
hem.

Gi
anthogweed

Gi
anthogweedhasholl
owst
emsthatcont
ainanoxi
oussap.Thi
ssapcancauset
heskinto
bl
ist
erwhenexposedt
osunl
i
ght
.Thesapcanalsoresul
tint
emporar
yorper
manentbl
indness
i
fitget
sint
otheeyes.

Gi
anthogweedt
ypi
cal
l
ygr
owsi
nNor
thAmer
icaandpr
efer
scool
env
ironment
swi
thmoi
stur
e,
i
ncl
uding:

al
ongr
iverbanks

meadows

v
acantl
ots

r
oadsi
des

r
ail
tracks

di
tches

Howt
oident
if
y

Gi
anthogweedgr
owsupt
o12–15f
eet(
ft)t
all
and3-
ftwi
de.

Thef
lower
sar
ewhi
te,
flat
-t
oppedcl
ust
ersatt
het
opoft
hest
em.Thest
emsar
ethi
ck,
hai
ry,
and
gr
eenwi
thpur
plebl
otchesandhav
ear
ingofwhi
tehai
rsatt
hebaseoft
hest
alk.

Daf
fodi
l
s

Daf
fodi
l
scont
ainl
ycor
inewhi
chi
sat
oxi
cchemi
cal
.Ly
cor
inei
smostconcent
rat
edi
nthebul
b.

Eati
nganypartofadaffodi
l
, i
ncl
udi
ngthebul
b,wi
l
lresul
tinv
omi
ti
ng,
nausea,
pai
nint
he
abdomen,anddiar
rhea.Eat
ingthebul
bcanal
soir
ri
tatet
hemout
h.

Thesy
mpt
omsar
enotl
i
fet
hreat
eni
ngandwi
l
lresol
vei
n3hour
s.

Howt
oident
if
y

Longgr
eenl
eav
esappearf
ir
st,
fol
l
owedbyat
all
stem wi
thay
ell
owi
sh-
greenbud.

Therearemanydi
ff
erentt
ypesofdaf
fodi
l
,butmosthav
esi
xpet
alssur
roundi
ngat
rumpet
-l
ike
st
ructur
e.

Poi
sonheml
ock

Poi
sonhemlocki
samemberoft
hecar
rotf
ami
l
y.Al
lpar
tsoft
hepl
antar
etoxi
c.I
tgr
owsacr
oss
mostofNor
thAmeri
ca.

Poisonhemlockpref
erst
ogr owinshadyareaswit
hmoi
stsoi
lbuti
nfest
ati
onscanoccural
ong
roadsi
des,
pastures,
marshes,andl
ow-ly
ingareas.

Ifi
ngest
ed,t
hepl
antcansl
owdownhear
trat
e,damaget
heki
dney
s,andaf
fectt
hener
vous
syst
em,causi
ngt
remorsandmuscl
edamage.

Any
onewhoi
ngest
spoi
sonheml
ockshoul
dseekmedi
cal
att
ent
ioni
mmedi
atel
y.
Howt
oident
if
y

Thepl
antcanbedi
ff
icul
ttoi
dent
if
yasi
tlookssi
mil
art
oot
heredi
blepl
ant
s.

Poisonheml
ockhaslacy,fern-
li
keleav
es,greenr
ibbedst
emswi
thpur
plebl
otches,
andcl
ust
ers
ofsmallwhi
tef
lower
st hatform anumbrell
ashape.

Thef
rui
tisegg-
shaped,
wit
hwav
yri
bbi
ngont
hesur
face.Thepl
antmayal
sosmel
lmust
y.

Cast
orbean

Theseedsofacastorbeancont
ainr
ici
nwhi
chisrel
easedwhenthebeani
schewed.Ri
cini
sa
toxi
nthatpr
event
sthebody’
scell
sfr
om pr
oduci
ngprotei
ns,
whichmaybefat
al.

Thepl
antgr
owsbyr
oadsi
des,
bar
nyar
ds,
str
eam beds,
ordumpi
nggr
ounds.

Howt
oident
if
y

TheUniver
sit
yofIlli
noisColl
egeofVet
eri
nar
yMedi
cinenotest
hatcast
orbeancangrowupto
15ft.Thel
arge,
st ar-
shapedleav
eshave5–11t
oot
hedlobesandaregl
ossywit
hbronzeorr
ed
ti
ntswhenimmat ure.

Thef
lower
sar
ered,
round,
andf
eat
her
y,i
ncl
ust
ersatt
het
opoft
hest
em.

Manchi
neel

Themanchi
neel
treegr
owsont
heshor
eoft
ropi
cal
cli
mat
esandcangr
owi
nFl
ori
da.

All
part
softhetree,
incl
udi
ngthefrui
t,ar
ehighl
ytoxi
c.Thetr
eesapcanr
esul
tini
rr
it
antcont
act
dermat
it
is,
leadi
ngtoburni
ng,
itchi
ng,swell
i
ng,andbli
ster
s.
Howt
oident
if
y

Manchi
neel
treesmayhav
ear
edcr
ossnear
byt
oshowt
hedanger
.

Manchineel
hasy
ell
owi
sh-
brownv
ari
egat
edwood.Thel
eav
esar
eshi
nywi
thasmoot
hededge
andgreen.

Fl
owersar
einspi
kesandar
eyel
l
owi
ng-
greeni
ncol
or.Thef
rui
tlooksl
i
keasmal
lredorgr
een
appl
e.

Ol
eander

Allpart
softheol
eanderpl
antaret
oxi
c.Ol
eandri
n,anext
ractoft
hepl
ant
,mayaf
fecthear
t
functi
onandcoul
dprovelet
halatt
hewrongdose.

Ol
eanderi
sor
igi
nal
l
yaMedit
erraneanplantbutcanadaptt
omanydi
ff
erentt
ypesofsoi
l
.The
pl
ant
shavebeenpl
ant
edonroadsidesandingardens.

Ol
eanderisinv
asi
veatDeat
hVal
l
eyNat
ional
Par
kinCal
i
for
niaandLakeMeadNat
ional
Par
kin
Nevada.I
tisal
socommoninHawai
i
.

Howt
oident
if
y

Ol
eanderi
sar
oundshr
ubwi
thdense,
dar
kgr
eenf
oli
age.

Thef
ragr
antf
lower
sar
ebr
ighti
ncol
or,
wit
hshadesofpi
nk,
red,
orange,
yel
l
ow,
orwhi
te.

Ji
msonweed

Ji
msonweedgr
owsi
nwar
mercl
i
mat
esi
ntheU.
S.onr
oadsi
desandi
npast
ures.
Consumpt
ionofj
i
msonweedcanl
eadt
o:

hal
l
uci
nat
ions

aggr
essi
veorunusual
behav
ior

di
zzi
nessorconf
usi
on

conv
ulsi
ons

l
ossofconsci
ousness

di
sor
ient
ati
on

di
arr
heaandv
omi
ti
ngwi
thnausea

Somepeopl
echoosetoconsumethedr
ugf
ori
tshal
l
uci
nogeni
cpr
oper
ti
es.Howev
er,
itcanbe
fat
ali
nhi
ghdosesTr
ustedSource.

Howt
oident
if
y

Ji
nsonweedgrowsupto5-f
ttal
l.Theplanthasapal
egr
eenst
em wi
thov
all
eav
est
hatar
e
gr
eenorhavepurpl
eti
ngeswit
hserrat
ededges.

Thef
lower
sar
ewhi
teorpur
plei
nat
rumpetshape.

Si
gnsandsy
mpt
oms

Ther
eact
iont
opoi
sonshownwi
l
ldependont
heamountofexposur
etot
het
oxi
n.

I
faper
sonhast
ouchedapoi
sonouspl
ant
,theymaydev
elopTr
ust
edSour
ce:

r
ash

bl
i
ster
s

st
reaki
ng

pat
ches
i
tchi
ng

swel
l
ing

Peopl
ewhohav
eeat
enort
ast
edapoi
sonouspl
antmayshowt
hef
oll
owi
ngsy
mpt
oms:

Common Uncommon

f
asthear
trat
esl
owhear
trat
e

hi
ghbl
oodpr
essur
e al
ter
edment
alst
ateandhal
l
uci
nat
ions

l
owbl
oodpr
essur
e hy
per
vent
il
ati
on

smal
lordi
l
atedpupi
l
ssei
zur
es

nauseaheadaches

v
omi
ti
ng muscl
epai
n

shor
tnessofbr
eat
h br
uisi
ng

f
lushedski
n j
aundi
ce

der
mat
it
is chestpai
n

i
rr
it
ati
onoft
hemucousmembr
anesf
ever

Pet
s

Peopl
eshoul
dcont
actav
etassoonaspossi
blei
ftheysuspectt
hei
rpethasi
ngest
eda
poi
sonouspl
ant
.

Thesi
gnsthatapethasingest
edapoisonousplantwi
l
ldependont
het
ypeofpl
ant
.For
exampl
e,t
heingest
ionofadaffodi
lcancause:

sal
i
vat
ion

v
omi
ti
ng

di
arr
hea

conv
ulsi
ons

l
owbl
oodpr
essur
e
car
diacar
rhy
thmi
as

t
remor
s

Whatt
odoi
faper
soncomesi
ntocont
actwi
tht
hepl
ant

Cont
actwi
that
oxi
csubst
ance:
Whatt
odo

I
fsomeonehascomeint
ocontactwi
that
oxi
csubst
ance,
takeact
ioni
mmedi
atel
y.Fi
rst
,reduce
har
minoneofthefol
l
owingways:

Forswal
lowedpoi
son: I
faper
soni
sexperi
encingbur
ningori
rr
it
ati
onandtheyareconsci
ous,
nothavi
ngconvul
sions,
andabl
etoswal
low,helpt
hem dri
nkasmallamountofwaterormil
k.

Forpoisonintheeye:Removecontactl
ensesandri
nsetheey
eimmedi
atelyunderarunni
ng
faucetforatl
east15–20minutes.Adul
tsorol
derchi
ldr
enmayfi
ndi
teasiertori
nseeyesint
he
shower.

Forpoisononclot
hing:
Remov
ethecont
ami
nat
edcl
othi
ngi
mmedi
atel
yandr
inset
heski
nunder
runni
ngwater.

Fori
nhal
edpoi
son:
Gett
ofr
eshai
randst
ayawayf
rom t
het
oxi
cfumesorgases.

Next
,cont
actPoi
sonCont
rol
,orasksomeoneel
set
odot
his.Ther
ear
etwomet
hods:

cal
lPoi
sonCont
rol
at1-
800-
222-
1222

uset
hePOI
SONCONTROLt
ool

Bothopt
ionspr
ovi
def
ree,
exper
tadv
iceonwhatt
odoi
nagi
vensi
tuat
ionandar
eav
ail
abl
e
24–7.

Donottrytotreatpoi
soni
ngathomewi t
hi pecacsy
rup,char
coal
,orot
herhomer
emedi
es.
Thesesubstancescanbeinef
fect
iveorevenharmful.

I
tisimportantt
onotet
hatthemostlet
halplant
sar
ety
pical
l
yuncommon,
andi
tisr
aret
hatl
i
fe
t
hreateni
ngorsever
econsequencesoccur
.

Apersonwhohasswall
owedpoi
sonouspl
antsmaynoti
mmediat
elyr
eal
izewhathashappened.
Theyshoul
dtakepi
ctur
esoft
hepl
antandseekmedi
calhel
passoonaspossi
ble.
Apersonshoul
ddothefol
l
owingst
epsiftheyexper
iencer
ashesori
tchi
ngaf
tercomi
ngi
nto
cont
actwit
haplantt
heyshoul
dTr
ustedSource:

Ri
nset
heski
n.

Cl
eant
henai
l
swi
thanai
l
brush.

Appl
ysoot
hingagent
s,suchascal
ami
nel
oti
on,
hydr
ocor
ti
sonecr
eam,
orwetcompr
essest
o
ai
dit
chi
ng.

Cont
actamedi
cal
prof
essi
onal
ift
her
ashaf
fect
sthegeni
tal
sorf
ace.

Seekemergencyt
reat
menti
faper
sonexper
iencesasev
ereal
l
ergi
creact
ionordi
ff
icul
ty
breat
hing.

Tr
eat
ment

Treatmentt
y pi
call
yinv
olvest
reat
ingt
hesy
mpt
omsandpr
ovi
dingsuppor
t.I
nsomecases,
a
personwil
lrequir
eantidot
es.

I
fachi
l
dswal
l
owspoi
son,
aper
sonshoul
d:

av
oidmaki
ngt
hem v
omi
t

t
aket
hepoi
sonpl
ant
sawayf
rom t
hechi
l
d

cal
l911oranemer
gencyhel
pli
nef
orf
urt
heri
nst
ruct
ions

I
fther
eisanysubst
ancesti
lli
nthemouth,
getthechi
ldtospiti
toutoruset
hefi
ngersto
removeit
.Peopl
eshoul
dthenkeepitasev
idenceofwhatthechil
dhasswal
lowed.I
tisal
so
benef
ici
altot
akeapict
ureofthepl
ant.

Poison.
orgsuggestscall
i
ng911oranemer gencyli
nei
mmediat
elyf
oradv i
ce.Peopleshouldnot
att
emptt omakeaper sonvomi
t.Theyshouldtakeapi
ctur
eoft
heplant
,incl
udingleaves,
frui
t,
androotsifv
isi
ble.

I
fthemouthorthr
oatisbur
ning,apersoncandrinkasmal
lamountofmil
korwat
er,
prov
idi
ng
t
heyareconsci
ous,ar
enothavingconvul
sions,
andcanswall
owthedri
nk.
Summar
y

Ther
ear
emanypoi
sonouspl
ant
sthatpeopl
eencount
eri
nthei
rday
-to-
dayl
i
ves.

Someplant
scancausereact
ionsontheski
ni fapersontouchesthem.I
fapersonswall
owsa
poi
sonouspl
ant,
theymayexperi
encegastr
ointest
inalupset
.Inrar
ecases,
ingest
ingpoi
sonous
pl
antscanbefat
al.

I
faper
soni
ngest
sapoi
sonouspl
ant
,theyshoul
dcont
actamedi
cal
prof
essi
onal
foradv
ice.

I
tcanbebenefi
cial
toknowt
hepoi
sonouspl
ant
sthataper
sonmayencount
eri
nanar
eaand
howtoi
denti
fythem.

Lastmedi
cal
l
yrev
iewedonMay13,
2022

Publi
cHeal
thEmer
gencyMedi
cineGast
roI
ntest
inal
/Gast
roent
erol
ogy
Env
ironment/Wat
er/
Pol
luti
on

Howwer
evi
ewedt
hisar
ti
cl
e:

SOURCES

Shar
ethi
sar
ti
cle

Ev
ery
thi
ngy
ouneedt
oknowaboutpoi
sonsumac

Medical
l
yreviewedbyDebor
ahWeat
her
spoon,
Ph.
D.,
MSN—Wr
it
tenbyShannonJohnsonon
March25,2020

Pi
ctur
es

Poi
sonsumacv
s.sumac
Rashsy
mpt
oms

Tr
eat
ment

Whent
oseeadoct
or

Summar
y

Poi
sonsumacisaty
peofplantt
hatcancauseanal
l
ergicski
nreact
ion,suchasarash.Ther
e
ar
eav ar
iet
yofov
er-
the-
count
er(OTC)t
reat
mentsavai
l
ableforr
eli
evingsymptoms.

Poisonsumac,poi
sonivy,
andpoi
sonoakplant
soccupynumerousout
doorar
eas.Comi
ngi
nto
contactwi
thanyofthesepl
ant
scancauseanall
ergi
cski
nreacti
on.

Thesereacti
onsareusual
l
ymil
danddonotrequi
ret
reatment.I
nsomecases,
howev
er,
bli
ster
s
fr
om thereacti
oncanbecomei
nfect
edandr
equir
eantibi
oti
ctreat
ment
.

Readonforsometi
psonhowt
oident
if
ypoi
sonsumac,
howt
otr
eataski
nreact
ion,
andwhen
tocont
actadoct
or.

Pi
ctur
es

VI
EW GALLERY

Poi
sonsumacv
s.sumac

Asumacpl
anti
sat
ypeofsmal
ltr
eeorshr
ubwi
thcompoundl
eav
es,
mil
kysap,
andf
leshyf
rui
t.

Poisonsumac,orToxicodendr
onverni
x,i
smorecl
osel
yrel
atedt
opoisoni
vyandpoisonoak
thanothersumacplants.However
,poi
sonsumaci
slesscommonthanpoi
sonivyandpoison
oak.

Poi
sonsumacgrowsmost
lyont
heeast
ernsi
deoft
heUni
tedSt
ates.Thepl
ant
stendt
ogr
owi
n
wetar
eas,
suchasswamps.
Theyar
eusuall
yar
ound5–20feett
all
.Thel
eavesconsi
stofsev
ento13l eafl
ets,
inpair
s,wit
ha
si
nglel
eafatt
heend.Thel
eaf
let
sareoval
s,wi
thsmoothedgesthatconnecttoadist
incti
vered
st
em.

I
fany thi
ngmakesdi rectcont
actwit
hthepoisonsumacplant,i
trel
easesanurushi
olTrusted
Sourceoil.Thi
soilcanreachtheski
nindir
ectl
y,suchasbytouchi
ngcontaminat
edcl othi
ng.
Comi ngintocont
actwi t
hurushi
olcausescontactder
mati
ti
s,whichisatypeofall
ergicskin
react
ion.

Sy
mpt
omsofr
ash

Sy
mpt
omsofanal
l
ergi
cski
nreact
iont
opoi
sonsumaci
ncl
udeTr
ust
edSour
ce:

ar
ash,
usual
l
ywi
thi
naf
ewday
sofcont
act

i
tchi
ng

swel
l
ing

pat
ches,
bumps,
orf
lui
d-f
il
ledbl
i
ster
s

Rashesf
rom poi
sonsumaccanr
angef
rom mi
l
dtosev
ere,
andt
heycanl
astf
or2–5weeks.

Thefl
uidfr
om abli
steri
snotcontagi
ous,butoilf
rom t
hepl
anti
s.Bl
i
ster
scanal
sobecome
i
nfect
ed.Somesignsofaninf
ectedbli
steri
nclude:

wor
seni
ngr
ednessar
oundt
hebl
i
ster

i
ncr
easi
ngpai
nfr
om t
hebl
i
sterov
ert
ime

swel
l
ingoft
hebl
i
ster

f
lui
dorpuscomi
ngf
rom t
hebl
i
ster

ay
ell
owcr
ustar
oundt
hear
ea
Tr
eat
ment

I
nmostcases,
arashf
rom t
hepoi
sonsumacpl
anti
str
eat
abl
eathome.

Theoilscansti
ckt
otheski
nandfi
nger
nai
l
squi
ckl
y.Fi
rst
,usesoapandwatertowashany
areasofthebodyt
hatmadecont
actwi
tht
hepl
ant
.Makesuretowashunderneat
hthe
fi
ngernai
ls.

Iti
sal
sonecessaryt
owashal lclothi
ngorot
heri
temsthatmadecont
actwi
ththepl
ant
.Use
commerci
aldeter
gentsorspeciali
zedpoi
sonpl
antwasheswit
hplent
yofwater
.

OTCt r
eatmentscanprovi
depainrel
i
effrom therash.Forexample,
appl
yacream thatcont
ains
zi
ncoxideorzincacet
atedir
ectl
ytotherash.Hydrocort
isonecr
eam orabakingsodapaste
mightalsohel
p.However,av
oidappl
yingthesecreamsandpast estoanyopenbli
ster
s.

Or
alant
ihi
stami
nes,
suchasdi
phenhy
drami
ne,
canr
eli
evei
tchi
ng.

I
fabli
sterbecomesinfected,useasoftdr
essingt
opr ot
ectthewound.I
tisusual
l
ybestt
oav
oid
poppi
nganyblist
ers,
ast hisi
ncreasest
heriskofi
nfecti
on.

Adoct ormayprescri
beanti
bioti
cstotr
eatani
nfect
edbli
ster
.Theant
ibi
oti
ccoul
dbei
nthe
form ofatabl
etoracream.Itisimport
antt
oseekmedicalat
tent
ionf
oraninf
ect
edbl
i
stert
o
preventcompli
cati
ons,suchascell
uli
ti
s.

Tor
educet
her
iskofcomi
ngi
ntocont
actwi
thpoi
sonsumac,
aper
soncant
ry:

cov
eri
ngt
heski
nasmuchaspossi
blewhi
l
eout
door
s

washi
nganyclot
hingthatmayhavecomei
ntocont
actwi
thpoi
sonsumac,
mul
ti
plet
imesandi
n
asepar
atewashtootherclot
hes

cl
eani
ngal
ltool
swi
thr
ubbi
ngal
cohol
orsoapandwat
err
egul
arl
y

usi
ngbar
ri
erski
ncr
eams,
suchasl
oti
onswi
thbent
oquat
am
neverburni
ngpl
ant
sthatmaycont
ainpoi
sonsumac,
ast
hesmokecanal
socauseal
l
ergi
c
react
ions

Whent
oseeadoct
or

Rashesf
rom poi
sonsumacwi
l
lusual
l
ygoawayont
hei
rownwi
thhomet
reat
ment
s.

However
,apersonshouldcont
actadoct
ori
fther
ashiswidespr
eadovert
hebodyoroccur
son
t
hefaceorgenit
als.I
tisal
soimpor
tantt
oseeadoct
orforanysympt
omsofinfect
ion.

I
tisessent
ial
tocontactt
heemer gencyser
vicesi
fanysev
eresymptomsoccur
,suchast
roubl
e
br
eathi
ngorthroatswel
li
ng.Thesesymptomscanbecomel i
fet
hreateni
ng.

Summar
y

Iti
spossi
blet
ocomei nt
ocontactwi
thpoi
sonsumacwhenoutdoor
s,par
ti
cul
arl
yinwetareas.
Apersoncanreducet
heriskofcomi
ngint
ocontactwi
thpoi
sonsumacbycover
ingal
lar
easof
ski
nasmuchaspossible.

Theoilfr
om poisonsumaccancl
ingt
otheskinandfi
nger
nail
s.Cont
actwitht
heseoil
scan
produceaskinreacti
onwi
thi
nafewdays.Therashmayberedandit
chy,anditmaycont
ain
fl
uid-
fi
ll
edbl
isters.

Apersoncanusuallyt
reatthesesymptomsathomeusi
ngOTCmedi
cat
ions.Cont
actadoct
or
f
orrashesthatbecomewi despreadori
nfect
ed.

I
tisvi
tal
toseekemergencycar
eforseveresymptoms,suchasdi
ff
icul
tybr
eat
hingorswel
l
ing
i
nthethr
oat,
asthesecanbecomelif
ethreateni
ngver
yquickl
y.

Lastmedi
cal
l
yrev
iewedonMar
ch25,
2020

Al
l
ergy
Der
mat
ology
Howwer
evi
ewedt
hisar
ti
cl
e:

SOURCES

Shar
ethi
sar
ti
cle

10besthomer
emedi
esf
orpoi
soni
vy

Medical
l
yrev
iewedbyDebr
aRoseWil
son,
Ph.
D.,
MSN,
R.N.
,I
BCLC,
AHN-
BC,
CHT—Wr
it
tenby
Jay
neLeonard—UpdatedonMay15,
2023

Recogni
zi
ngpoi
soni
vy

Homer
emedi
es

Whent
ospeakwi
thadoct
or

Av
oidi
ngpoi
soni
vyr
ash

Summar
y

Wei
ncl
udeproduct
swet hi
nkareusef
ulforourreader
s.I
fyoubuyt
hroughl
i
nksont
hispage,
wemayear
nasmal lcommissi
on.Her
e’sourprocess.

Howwev
etbr
andsandpr
oduct
s

Exposur
etopoi
sonivycanr esul
tinasev
erer
ash.Whiletherashmaysubsidewi
thout
tr
eatment,
homeremedies,suchascoldcompressesorcal
ami ne,
canhel
pgetri
dofther
ash
andmanageothersy
mpt oms.

Poi
sonivyrashoccur
sduetophysicalcont
actwithurushi
ol,
anoilwi
thi
nthepoi
soni
vypl
ant
.
Al
thoughsomepeoplearenotsensit
ivetothi
soilandneverdev
elopsymptoms,
most
i
ndivi
dual
sexperi
encearashupontouchingpoisoniv
y .

Var
ioushomeandov er
-t
he-counter(OTC)remediescanhel
pmanagethesymptomsofa
poi
sonivyr
ash.Thi
sarti
cleexploresthest
rategi
esthatmayof
ferr
eli
eff
rom poi
soni
vyr
ash
anddi
scusseswhent
oseekhel
pfr
om adoct
or.

Recogni
zi
ngpoi
soni
vy

JohnDr
eyer
/Get
tyI
mages

Recogni
zi
ngandav
oidi
ngpoi
soni
vyacr
ossal
lfourseasonscanhel
preducet
her
iskofpoi
son
i
vydermati
ti
s.

Her
ear
esomet
ipsTr
ust
edSour
cet
ohel
pident
if
ythepl
ant
.

eachl
eafhast
hreegl
ossyl
eaf
let
s

l
eafedgesmaybesmoot
hornot
ched

i
tgr
owsei
therasav
ineorasmal
lshr
ub

i
tgr
owst
hroughoutt
heUni
tedSt
atesexceptf
orAl
aska,
Hawai
i
,andpar
tsoft
heWestCoast

Thel
eav
eschangeal
socol
orwi
tht
heseasons:

Spr
ing:
reddi
sh

Summer
:gr
een

Fal
l
:or
ange,
red,
ory
ell
ow

Poi
soni
vymayal
sohav
ewhi
ti
sh-
yel
l
owber
ri
esorgr
eeni
sh-
whi
tef
lower
s.

Homer
emedi
es

Apoisoni
vyr
ashwill
usual
l
ygoawaywi
thoutmedi
cal
treat
ment
,buti
tcancausesev
ere
di
scomfor
tunt
ilt
hen.

Thef
oll
owi
ngpoi
soni
vyr
emedi
esmaypr
ovi
der
eli
eff
rom sy
mpt
oms.
1.Rubbi
ngal
cohol

Rubbi
ngal cohol
canr emov
etheurushi
oloi
lfr
om theski
nandothersur
faces.I
tisagoodi
dea
tocar
ryalcoholwipeswhenhi
kingorcampingforpr
omptappl
i
cationtotheaff
ectedar
eaaft
er
poi
sonivyexposure.

TheFoodandDrugAdminist
rati
on(FDA)Tr
ustedSour
ceadvi
sesthatur
ushiol
canr emainonthe
sur
faceofmostit
emsthatcomei nt
ocontactwit
hpoi
soniv
y,sometimesforyear
s, unl
essa
per
sontreat
sitwi
thr
ubbingalcoholorwat
er.

I
tems,suchasboots,gl
oves,gar
dentool
s,cl
othes,andevenanimal
sandpet
s,canpi
ckup
urushi
olandcauseanal
lergi
cskinr
eacti
onincertai
nindi
vidual
s.

2.Showerorbat
he

Assoonaspossi
bleaf
terexposur
e,aper
sonshoul
d:

washt
heski
nandundert
hef
inger
nai
l
swi
thpl
ainsoapandl
ukewar
m wat
ert
oremov
epl
antoi
l
s

washanyot
heri
temst
hathav
ecomei
ntocont
actwi
tht
hepl
ant
,suchascl
othi
ng,
gar
dent
ool
s,
andpet
s

wearr
ubbergl
oveswhi
l
ewashi
ngt
hesei
tems

Taki
ngbr
ief
,cool
shower
swhi
l
ether
ashl
ast
smayal
sopr
ovi
deongoi
ngr
eli
ef.

3.Col
dcompr
ess

Cool
,wetcompr
essescanhel
preduceTr
ust
edSour
cei
tchi
ngandi
nfl
ammat
ion.

Tomakeacompr
ess:

Runacl
eanwashcl
othundercol
dwat
er.

Wr
ingof
ftheexcesswat
er.
Appl
ythi
stot
heski
n.

Repeatt
heabov
est
epsasneeded.

Somepeoplefi
ndthatsoaki
ngthecl
othi
nanast
ri
ngentl
i
qui
d,suchasal
umi
num acet
ate,
reducesf
urt
herswel
li
nganditchi
ng.

Soaki
ngt
her
ashi
ncool
wat
ermayal
sohel
p.

4.Resi
stscr
atchi
ngt
heski
n

Scrat
chingtheskincancausebl
i
ster
stobur
standi
nfect
iont
odev
elop,
forexampl
e,i
fbact
eri
a
arepresentunderthenai
l
s.

Unscr
ubbedfi
ngernai
l
smayal socont
aintr
acesofur
ushi
ol,
whichcanpassontotheski
n
thr
oughscr
atchi
ng.Thiscanl
eadtofurt
herit
chi
ngandaworseni
ngoftherash.

5.Topi
cal
lot
ionsandcr
eams

Hydr
ocor
ti
sonecreamst
hatcanhel
preduceTr
ust
edSour
cei
tchi
ngandswel
l
ingar
eav
ail
abl
e
asOTCproduct
s.

Pr
oduct
scont
aini
ngt
hef
oll
owi
ngcanal
sot
reatoozi
ngandweepi
ng:

zi
ncacet
ate

zi
nccar
bonat
e

zi
ncoxi
de

cal
ami
ne

Peopl
eshoul
dal
way
sappl
ythesepr
oduct
saccor
dingt
othei
nst
ruct
ionsont
hel
abel
.

6.Or
alant
ihi
stami
nes

Or
alant
ihi
stami
nes,
suchasdi
phenhy
drami
ne(
Benadr
yl)
,mayhel
preducei
nfl
ammat
ion,
i
tching,andrash.Aphar
maci
stcanadv
iseonsui
tabl
eopt
ions,
assomet
ypescancause
drowsiness.

TheAmeri
canAcademyofDer
mat ol
ogy(AAD)adv
isespeopl
enott
oappl
ytopi
cal
ant
ihi
stami
ne
cr
eam t
otherash,
asitmayworsenthei
tchi
ng.

7.Oat
meal
bat
h

Olderr
esear
chshowsthatoatmealhasant
ioxidantandant
i-
inf
lammat
orypr
oper
ti
est
hat
benefi
tavar
iet
yofi
nfl
ammat oryski
ncondi
tions.

Addi
ngoatmealt
oal ukewarm bat
hmayhel
prel
iev
ethesymptomsofapoi
soni
vyr
ash.
Addi
ti
onal
l
y,appl
yingcoll
oidal
oatmeal
tot
herashmayalsohel
p.

8.Bent
oni
tecl
ay

Bentonit
eclayisanaturalclayt
hatpeopl
euseinavari
etyofbeaut
yandper
sonalcareproduct
s.
Somei ndiv
idual
sreportrel
ieffr
om poi
soniv
yrashaft
erapply
ingapast
eofbentoni
teclayand
watertotheaffect
edarea.

Resear
chTrust
edSourcesuggest
sthatusi
ngamodifi
edv
ersi
onofbent
oni
teclay(
quat
erni
um-
18bentoni
te)mayhel
ppreventormanagecont
actder
mati
ti
sduetopoi
soniv
yandpoisonoak.

9.Baki
ngsoda

Al
soknownassodi
um bi
carbonat
e,baki
ngsodai
sasal
tthatpeoplemainl
yusei
nbaki
ng.
However
,iti
sal
soanat
ural
cleani
ngagentandhomer
emedyf orvari
ousai
lment
s.

TheAADr
ecommendsaddi
ngacupofbaki
ngsodat
orunni
ngwat
erwhendr
awi
ngabat
h.

10.Pr
escr
ipt
ionst
eroi
ds

St
eroi
ddrugs,suchaspredni
sone,canhelpeasesever
eitchi
ngandinfl
ammation.Thesear
e
di
ff
erentf
rom OTChydrocort
isonecream becauset
heyneedadoctor’
sprescr
ipt
ion.
Thesest
eroi
dmedi
cat
ionscomei
nav
ari
etyoff
orms,
incl
udi
ng:

cr
eams

gel
s

oi
ntment
s

t
abl
ets

i
nject
ions

Anti
bioti
csmaysometi
mesbenecessar
yifaper
soncont
ract
sani
nfect
ionduet
oscr
atchi
ng
theskinorpi
cki
ngatbl
ist
ers.

Whent
ospeakwi
thadoct
or

Mostcasesofpoisoni
vydermati
ti
sclearupwithoutmedi
cal
int
erv
ent
ion.Howev
er,
aper
son
shoul
dspeakwithadoctori
fthefol
lowingoccur:

t
her
ashbecomeswi
despr
ead,
cov
eri
ng25%Tr
ust
edSour
ceormor
eoft
hebody

sy
mpt
omsar
esev
ere

t
her
eist
ender
ness,
pus,
orsof
tyel
l
owscabs

t
hei
tchi
ngget
swor
seandaf
fect
saper
son’
ssl
eep

t
her
ashi
nvol
vest
heey
es,
mout
h,orgeni
tal
s

t
heyexper
iencebr
eat
hingdi
ff
icul
ti
es

sy
mpt
omsdonoti
mpr
oveaf
ter7–10day
s

t
heydev
elopaf
everofabov
e100°
FTr
ust
edSour
ce(
37.
7°C)

Any
onewi
thbr
eat
hingpr
obl
emsshoul
dseeki
mmedi
ateemer
gencymedi
cal
hel
p.

Av
oidi
ngpoi
soni
vyr
ash

Recogni
zi
ngandav
oidi
ngpoi
soni
vyi
sthebestwayt
opr
eventexposur
eandar
ash.
I
fiti
snotpossi
blet
oav
oidt
hepl
ant
,thef
oll
owi
ngt
ipscanhel
p:

Wearprotecti
vecl
othi
ng:Cov
erupinareaswher
epoisonivyisli
kel
ytogr
ow.Userubberor
t
hickgardeninggl
oveswhengar
deningorremov
ingpoisoniv
y ,
astheoi
lmaypenetr
atethr
ough
t
hinnergloves.

Wearbar r
iersubst
ances:Forexample,appl
yi
ngproduct
sthatcont
ainbent
oquat
am before
exposuremayhel preducesymptomsincaseofcontact
.Apersonneedstowashoffthese
substancesassoonaspossi bl
eifexposureoccur
s.

Washany
thi
ngthatcomesi
ntocont
actwi
ththepl
ant:Thor
oughlywi
peanythi
ngt
hathasbeen
i
ncont
actwi
thpoisoni
vywi
thrubbi
ngal
coholorwashwithsoapandwater
.

Remov epoisoni v
yfrom thegarden:Professi
onalremoval
maybethebestopti
on—ev en
contactwit
ht heroots,t
hedeadpl ant,
orsmokef rom aburni
ngpl
antmaycauseareacti
on.
Nev erbur
npoi soniv
y ,
asbreathingintheresul
ti
ngsmokecancausedangerousal
l
ergic
reacti
ons.

Pr
epareapoi sonivyki
t:Keepi
ngsever
alpoi
sonivyt
reat
mentsonhand,suchasrubbi
ngalcohol
,
waterbot
tles,andsoap,canal
lowforapromptt
reat
menttoeaseexposure,
whichcanreduce
sy
mpt om severit
y.

Summar
y

Apoi
soni
vyrashcandev
elopifaperson’
sski
ncomesi
ntocontactwi
thur
ushi
ol,
anoi
lpr
esent
i
nall
par
tsofthepoi
soni
vyplant
.Itcanleadt
osev
erei
tchi
ng.

Therashcancausesev erediscomfort
,buthomer emediescanoftenhel
psootheit.They
i
ncludewipi
ngwithrubbingal cohol
,washi
nginlukewarm water
,andapplyi
ngcoldcompr esses.
I
fthesedonoteaset hepai n,
aphar maci
stmayr ecommendOTCmedi cat
ion.I
fthesympt oms
per
sistorar
esevere,aper sonmayneedt ospeakwi t
hadoct or
.

Thehomer
emedi
esl
i
stedi
nthi
sar
ti
clear
eav
ail
abl
eforpur
chaseonl
i
ne.

Shopf
orr
ubbi
ngal
cohol
.

Shopf
orappl
eci
derv
inegar
.
Shopf
orhy
drocor
ti
sonecr
eam.

Shopf
orcal
ami
nel
oti
on.

Shopf
orBenadr
yl.

Shopf
oroat
meal
.

Shopf
orbent
oni
tecl
ay.

Shopf
orbaki
ngsoda.

Lastmedi
cal
l
yrev
iewedonAugust9,
2021

Al
l
ergy
Der
mat
ology
Publ
i
cHeal
th

Howwer
evi
ewedt
hisar
ti
cl
e:

SOURCES

Shar
ethi
sar
ti
cle

Whatt
oknowaboutpoi
sonoak,
poi
soni
vy,
andpoi
sonsumacr
ashes

Medi
cal
l
yrev
iewedbyLaur
enCast
iel
l
o,MS,
AGNP-
C—Wr
it
tenbyMar
yWestonJul
y29,
2021

Def
ini
ti
ons

Whyt
heycausear
ash

Rashappear
ance

Tr
eat
ment
s

Pr
event
ion

Whent
oseeadoct
or

Summar
y

Poisonivy,
poisonoak, andpoisonsumacar eplantsthatcancauseanal
ler
gicskinreacti
on.
Thesepoisonouspl ant
scontainanoilthatcantri
ggerthebody’simmunesystem andproduce
arash.Becomi ngfamili
arwiththeappearanceoftheseplantscanhel
papersonidentif
yand
preventanall
ergicrashfrom exposur
e.
TheCentersf orDiseaseContr
ol andPreventi
on(CDC)Trust
edSourcenotethatwhilethe
expressi
on“leav esofthr
ee,l
etitbe”canbehel pf
ulfori
denti
fyi
ngpoisoni
vyandpoi sonoak,
thi
sisnottruef orpoisonsumac, ast
hisplantusual
lyhasclust
ersof7–13leaves.Addit
ional
l
y,
somespeciesofpoi soniv
yandoakmayal sohav emorethan3leaves.

Ifapersonsuspect scontactwi
thoneoft heseplants,theCDCTr ust
edSour cerecommends
theywasht heexposedskinandscrubtheirnai
l
s.Whenar ashappears,apply
ingwet
compr essesorhy drocor
ti
sonecream canhelpreducei tchingandbli
ster
ing.Howev er
,ift
he
rashissev ereorifsomeoneishavingtr
oublebreathing, t
heyshouldgetimmedi at
emedi cal
attent
ion.

Int
hisart
icl
e,wediscusshowapersoncanident
if
ypoisonoak,
poi
soni
vy,
andpoi
sonsumac,
aswellassymptoms, t
reat
ment
,andprevent
ionoftherash.

Poi
sonoak,
poi
soni
vy,
andpoi
sonsumacdef
ini
ti
ons

t
bri
ck/
Get
tyI
mages

Toxi
codendronisagroup,orgenus,ofwoodypl ant
sbelongi
ngtotheAnacar di
aceaefamil
y.
Thenameder i
vesfr
om theGr eekwor dsfor“t
oxict
ree.
”TheToxicodendrongenusincl
udesa
numberofplant
sknownf ortheirt
oxicit
yTrust
edSourcethatgr
owt hroughoutt
heUnited
Stat
esTr
ustedSource.

Thekey TrustedSour
cetoavoidi
ngexposur
etopoisonoak,i
vy,andsumacisbei
ngableto
recogni
zet hem.TheU.S.FoodandDrugAdminist
rat
ion(FDA)
Tr ust
edSour
ceprovi
desthe
belowinformationonhowtoidenti
fyt
heplant
s:

Poi
sonoak

Poisonoakgr owsi nlongvi

nesortallcl
umpsont hePacifi
cCoast .I
tisal
sopresentinthe
southernandeast ernUnit
edStatesasalowshr ub.Theplanthasfuzzygreenleav
es,usual
lyin
groupingsofthree.Theleavesofpoisonoakaretypical
l
yeitherdeeplyt
oothedorlobedwith
roundedtips.Yell
ow-whiteberr
iesmaybepr esent.
Poi
soni
vy

Poisoniv
ygrowsthr
oughoutthe48cont
iguousst
atesexceptf
orpar
tsoftheWestCoast
.It
growsasasmallshruborvi
netrai
l
ingal
ongtheground.Thepl
antmayalsogr
owonl owplant
s,
poles,
andtr
ees.

Everyl
eafhast hreeglossyl
eafl
etst
hathavetoot
hedorsmoothedges.Theleavesar
egreenin
summer ,
reddishi nt
hespr i
ng,
andred,or
ange,oryel
l
owinthefal
l
.Whitish-
yel
lowberr
iesand
greeni
sh-
whitef l
owersmaybepr esent
.

Poi
sonsumac

Poisonsumacgrowsasasmal lt
reeortal
lshr ubinswampsorbogsi ntheMidwest,
Northeast
,
andpartsoftheSout
heast
.Theleavesconsistofclust
ersof7–13l eafl
etswit
hsmoot hedges,
whicharegreeni
nsummer ,or
angeinthespring,andred,or
ange,ory el
l
owi nthef
all
.Yell
ow-
greeni
shfl
owersandclust
ersofwhiti
sh-
greenber r
iesmaybepr esent.

Whyt
heycausear
ash

Whenpoi sonoak, i
vy,
andsumacar edamaged,brui
sed, orburned,theyrel
easeanoi l
call
ed
urushi
ol.I
fitgetsonapeson’sskin,
mostpeopleexperienceanal l
ergicreact
ionthatmanif
ests
asanitchy,redrashwithbl
i
stersorbumps.Exposur
et oj ust50mi crogr
ams,whichislessthan
onegrainoft abl
esalt
,cantr
iggerarashi
n80–90%Tr ustedSour ceofadults.

Exposur
emayr
esul
tfr
om:

di
rectcont
actt
hroughhandl
i
ngorbr
ushi
ngagai
nstt
hepl
ant

i
ndir
ectcont
actt
hrought
ouchi
ngt
ool
s,cl
othi
ng,
orani
mal
ssuchashousehol
dpet
sthathav
e
ur
ushiol
onthem

i
nhal
ati
onofur
ushi
olf
rom bur
ningpl
ant
s,whi
chcancausel
ungi
rr
it
ati
on

Whenr
ashesappearandwhatt
heymayl
ookl
i
ke

VI
EW GALLERY

8
Foll
owingexposure,
theti
mei ttakesforarashtoappeardependsonwhet heraper
sonhashad
apriorr
ashfrom poi
sonivy,oak,orsumac.Typicall
y,i
fanindi
vidual
hasnothadaprevi
ousrash
fr
om theplants,t
herashusuall
yappearswithi
n2–3weeks.I nsomeonewhohasexper i
enceda
previ
ousrashf r
om t
heplants,t
her ashmaymani festwit
hin4–48hours.

Sy
mpt
omsmayi
ncl
udeTr
ust
edSour
ce:

r
edr
ash

i
tchi
ng

swel
l
ing

possi
blest
reaki
ng,
pat
ches,
bumps,
andweepi
ngbl
i
ster
s

Mostpeopl
ewhogett
her
ashexper
iencet
hef
oll
owi
ngcour
se:

Thef
ir
stsy
mpt
om i
sint
ensei
tchi
ngwher
ether
ashwi
l
lappear
.

Shor
tl
yaf
teri
tchi
ngst
art
s,t
her
ashdev
elops.

Next
,ifaper
sonhasbl
i
ster
s,t
heybr
eakopenandl
eakf
lui
d.

Last
ly,
thebl
i
ster
sfor
m acr
ust
,andt
her
ashdi
sappear
sin2–3weeks,
evenwi
thoutt
reat
ment
.

Howt
otr
eatar
ash

TheCDCTrust
edSour
cer
ecommendt
hesemeasur
esi
faper
soni
sexposedt
opoi
soni
vy,
oak
orsumac:

I
mmediat
elyr
inset
heski
nwithr
ubbingal
cohol
,di
shwashi
ngl
i
qui
d,det
ergent
,oraspeci
ali
zed
poi
sonpl
antwashandpl
ent
yofwater.

Rinsefrequent
lyt
opr
eventt
hewashsol
uti
onf
rom dr
yingt
heski
nandspr
eadi
ngexposur
eto
theurushiol
.

Cl
eanundert
henai
l
swi
thabr
ush.

I
far
ashappear
s,t
aket
hef
oll
owi
ngst
eps:
Applycal
amineloti
on,wetcompresses,
orhy
dr ocor
ti
sonecr
eam totheexposedski
nto
decr
easebli
steri
ngandi t
chi
ng.Fol
lowthedi
recti
onsonthepackagewhenapplyi
ngacream,
butdonotapplytobrokenski
n.

Takeanoat
meal
bat
h,asi
tmayr
eli
evei
tchi
ng.

Forfurt
heri
tchi
ngrel
ief,
takeanant i
hist
ami
nesuchasdiphenhydramine(Benadry
l).Useit
accordi
ngtothepackagedirect
ions.I
fachi
ldhascomeintocontactwithapoisonplant,
iti
s
advi
sabletoaskapediatr
ici
anaboutdosage.Not
ethatBenadry
l cancausedrowsiness.

Pr
event
ingar
ash

Apersoncandosev
eral
thi
ngst
otr
yandpr
eventar
ash.TheFDATr
ust
edSour
ceadv
isest
he
bel
owpracti
ces:

Lear
nwhatthepl
antsl
ookl
iketobeabl
etoavoidthem.Wat
chi
ngonl
i
nev
ideoscanhel
p
someonebecomefami
li
arwit
hthei
rappear
ance.

Wearlongsl
eev
es,
longpant
s,andgl
oveswhenwor
kingi
nthegar
dent
opr
otectt
heski
nfr
om
exposur
e.

Washtheski
nassoonaspossibl
eaf
terexposur
e.Donotdel
aybecauset
hiscanhel
ppr
event
f
urt
herspr
eadofanyreact
ion.

Washanexposedpetwi
thpetshampooandwat erwhi
leweari
ngrubbergl
oves.Al
thoughpets
ar
enotsensi
ti
vetopoi
sonplant
s,pet
ti
ngthem canexposesomeonetotheoilont
hef urand
pr
oduceareact
ion.

Toav
oidi
nhal
ati
onoft
heur
ushi
ol,
donotbur
npl
ant
sthatmaybepoi
sonous.

Whent
oseeadoct
or

TheFDATr
ust
edSour
cer
ecommendsseei
ngadoct
ori
f:

ani
ndi
vi
dual
hasaf
everhi
ghert
han100°
F(38°
C)

t
her
ashcov
ersmor
ethanone-
four
thoft
heski
n

t
her
eist
ender
ness,
pus,
orsof
t,y
ell
owscabsont
her
ash

t
her
ashdoesnoti
mpr
ovewi
thi
naf
ewweeks

Somet
imesapersonmayneedmor eur
gentcare.TheCDCTrust
edSourceadv
isei
mmedi
ate
medi
calat
tent
ioni
fther
ashissev
ereorifi
tisonthefaceorgeni
tal
s.
I
fapersonhasasevereal
ler
gicr
eact
ion,
suchasdi
ffi
cul
tybr
eathi
ngorswelli
ng,
oriftheyhave
hadasevereal
l
ergi
creact
ionint
hepast,
theyr
equi
rei
mmediatehelp.Cal
l911ortakethem t
o
ahospi
talemer
gencyroom.

Summar
y

Toxicodendr onplants,suchaspoi sonoak, i

v y,andsumacar epoisonousplantsthatcan
secreteat oxicoilcall
edur ushiol
.Lear
ningtoi denti
fytheseplant
sandbei ngableto
dif
ferent
iatet hem from si
mi larpl
antsi
st hemosti mportantwayTrust
edSour cet
opr event
exposure.Itisalsoimpor tanttoremembert hatexposurecanbei ndir
ect,
suchast ouching
gardentool sandpet sthathav ehadcont actwit ht
heplants,orfr
om inhal
ingsmokef rom
burningplants.

Fol
lowi
ngcontact,arashmayappearwithinafewhoursto2–3weeks.Therashwillt
ypical
lygo
awaywithoutt
reat
ment ,butmedi
cati
ons,suchashydr
ocorti
sonecr
eam,cal
ami nelot
ion,and
ant
ihi
staminetabl
ets,canrel
i
evei
tchi
ngandmakeaper sonfeel
morecomfortabl
e.

I
fapersonhasanext
remereact
iont
ot hesepl
ant
s,i
tisadv
isabl
etheyr
ecei
vei
mmedi
ate
medi
calatt
ent
ioni
fanexposur
eoccurs.

Lastmedi
cal
l
yrev
iewedonJul
y29,
2021

Al
l
ergy
Der
mat
ology
Publ
i
cHeal
th

Howwer
evi
ewedt
hisar
ti
cl
e:

SOURCES

Shar
ethi
sar
ti
cle

Heal
thef
fect
sofv
olat
il
eor
gani
ccompounds
Medi
cal
l
yrev
iewedbyNi
ckVi
l
lal
obos,
MD—Wr
it
tenbyYv
ett
eBr
azi
eronMay13,
2024

Whatar
eVOCs?

Exampl
es

Heal
thef
fect
s

Sy
mpt
oms

Env
ironment
alef
fect
s

Sour
ces

VOCr
educt
ion

FAQ

Summar
y

Volati
leor
gani
ccompounds( VOCs)ent
ertheairfr
om gasoli
ne,
pest
ici
des,t
obaccosmoke,
and
thousandsofot
herproduct
sandprocesses.Theycanincr
easether
iskofai
rwayprobl
emsand
otherheal
thi
ssues.

Whetheral
oneori
ncombi nat
ionwithothergases,VOCscanl
eadt
opr
obl
emswi
tht
hel
ungs,
cent
ralner
voussy
stem (
CNS) ,ki
dneys,
andl i
ver.

Theshor
t-
term heal
theff
ect
sofVOCsi
ncl
udeai
rwayi
rr
it
ati
on.I
nthel
ongt
erm,
exposur
eto
VOCsmayl eadtocancer
.

Her
e,lear
nmoreaboutVOCs,
wheret
heyoccur
,andhowtheymightaf
fectaper
son’
sheal
th.
Al
so,getsomet
ipsonhowtoavoi
dtheunwant
edeff
ectsofVOCs.

Whatar
eVOCs?

DGLi
maget
/Get
tyI
mages

VOCsar egasesthatsomesolidandliqui
dsubstancesemitintot
heair
.Theyareessent
ialf
or
produci
ngmanyev erydaymateri
als,
butresear
chTrustedSourceshowstheycanal
soaffectthe
healt
hofindi
vidual
sandt heenvi
ronment.
I
nter
msoft
hei
rpr
oper
ti
es,
VOCs:

easi
l
ytur
nint
ovapor

donotbr
eakdownTr
ust
edSour
ceeasi
l
y

canst
ayi
ntheai
rforal
ongt
imeandt
rav
ell
ongdi
stances

cancomef r
om nat
ural
event
s,suchaswi
l
dfi
res,
orf
rom human-
madepr
ocesses,
suchas
manufact
uri
ng

canbei
ntheai
r,f
ood,
orwat
er,
incl
udi
ngswi
mmi
ngandbat
hingwat
er

Accor
dingtotheEnvi
ronment
alProt
ecti
onAgency(EPA)
,VOClev
elsar
eupt
o10t
imeshi
gher
i
ndoorsthanoutdoor
s,andt
housandsofpr
oductsemitt
hem.

Exampl
esofVOCs

Her
ear
ejustaf
ewoft
het
housandsofVOCst
hatexi
st.

Chemi
cal
name Commonl
ypr
esenti
nCl
ass

pr
opane cooki
ngandheat
inggas VVOC

but
anecooki
ngandheat
inggas VVOC

methy
lchl
ori
de(
chl
oromet
hane) r
efr
iger
ant
s,her
bici
des,
pol
yst
yrenef
oam pr
oduct
ion
VVOC

f
ormaldehyderesi
ns,gl
ues,
var
nishes,
coati
ngsf
orcl
othi
ng,paper
,insul
ati
ngmat
eri
als,
l
aminatefl
oori
ng,pl
ywoodandotherpr
essedwoods VOC

t
oluene pai
ntt
hinner
sandgl
ues VOC

acet
one nai
lpol
i
shr
emov
er,
househol
dsol
vent
s,acomponenti
nawi
der
angeof
materi
als VOC

i
sopr
opylal
cohol cosmet
ics,
phar
maceut
ical
s,per
fumes,
ant
if
reeze,
soaps,
cleaner
s,
di
si
nfect
ant
s VOC

hexanal fav
ori
ngint
hefoodi
ndust
ry,
fragr
ancei
nper
fumes,
andusedf
ormaki
ngpl
ast
ics,
rubber
,andi
nsect
ici
des VOC
tr
ichl
oret
hyl
ene i
ndust
ri
alsol
vent
s—maycont
ami
nat
egr
oundwat
eranddr
inki
ngwat
er
SVOC

DDT pest
ici
des SVOC

pht
hal
ates pl
ast
ics SVOC

chl
ordane pest
ici
des SVOC

benzy
lal
cohol
per
fumes,
flav
ori
ngs,
cosmet
ics,
clot
hesdy
e,i
nks,
phot
ogr
aphi
cdev
elopi
ng
SVOC

pol
ychl
ori
nat
edbi
pheny
ls(
PCBs) f
ir
eret
ardant
sSVOC

Ty
pesofVOC

Sci
entist
sTrust
edSour ceclassi
fyVOCsaccordi
ngtot
hei
rproper
ti
esandpossibleeff
ects.For
i
nstance,cVOCsincreasether i
skofcancer
,andmVOCsaremicr
obial
,possi
blystemmingf r
om
microbesorfungalspores.

Peopl
ecanal
socat
egor
izeVOCsbyt
hei
rboi
l
ingpoi
nt.Theymaybe:

v
eryv
olat
il
eor
gani
ccompounds(
VVOCs)
,wi
thaboi
l
ingpoi
ntr
angeofupt
o100°
C

v
olat
il
eor
gani
ccompounds(
VOCs)

semi
vol
ati
l
eor
gani
ccompounds(
SVOCs)
,wi
thaboi
l
ingpoi
ntbet
ween240°
Cand400°
C

HowdoVOCsaf
fectheal
th?

Accor
dingt
otheEPA,
someVOCscani
ncr
easet
her
iskof
:

ey
e,nose,
andt
hroati
rr
it
ati
on

pr
obl
emswi
tht
hener
voussy
stem

l
i
verandki
dneydamage

canceri
nani
mal
sandpossi
blyi
nhumans

Whil
esomeVOCscanhav esi
gnifi
cantheal
thef
fect
s,other
shav enoknowntoxi
ceff
ect
s.
However
,iti
swor
thnot
ingthatsci
enti
stshavenotyetr
esearchedmanyhousehol
dVOCs.
Theef
fect
sal
sodependTr
ust
edSour
ceont
heconcent
rat
ionoft
hesubst
anceandhowl
onga
per
sonremai
nsexposedt
oit
.

HOW DOVOCSANDOTHERTYPESOFPOLLUTI
ONAFFECTHEALTH?

Fi
ndoutmor
eaboutpol
l
uti
onandv
ari
ousheal
thi
ssues.

Howcanai
rpol
l
uti
onaf
fectpr
egnancyout
comes?

Canai
rpol
l
uti
ont
ri
ggerami
grai
neepi
sode?

Whatar
esomel
ong-andshor
t-
ter
m heal
thef
fect
sofai
rpol
l
uti
on?

Howdoeswat
erpol
l
uti
onaf
fecthumanheal
th?

Sy
mpt
omsofVOCheal
thef
fect
s

Somesy
mpt
omsaper
sonmayexper
ienceonexposur
etoVOCsi
ncl
ude:

i
rr
it
ati
onordi
scomf
orti
ntheey
es,
nose,
andt
hroat

al
l
ergi
cski
nreact
ions

br
eat
hingdi
ff
icul
ty,
knownasdy
spnea

headache

nausea

v
omi
ti
ng

f
ati
gue

di
zzi
ness

nosebl
eeds

l
ossofcoor
dinat
ion

v
isi
onchanges

conf
usi
onanddi
ff
icul
tyr
emember
ingt
hings
l
owl
evel
sofchol
i
nest
erase,
whi
chi
sessent
ial
fort
heef
fect
ivef
unct
ioni
ngoft
heCNS

changesTr
ust
edSour
cei
nhear
trhy
thm andot
hercar
diacpr
obl
ems

par
aly
sis

sei
zur
es

Getsomet
ipsonav
oidi
ngl
ungi
rr
it
ati
onduet
oVOCsandot
heri
rr
it
ant
s.

Whatar
etheenv
ironment
alef
fect
sofVOCs?

I
naddi
ti
ont
oheal
thi
ssues,
VOCscanal
soaf
fect
Trust
edSour
cet
heenv
ironmentby
:

cont
ri
but
ingt
oai
rpol
l
uti
onandpar
ti
clesi
ntheai
r

i
ncr
easi
ngt
her
iskofcl
i
mat
echangebyabsor
bingi
nfr
aredr
adi
ati
onf
rom t
heear
th’
ssur
face

pol
l
uti
ngoceans,
reser
voi
rs,
andot
herwat
erbodi
es

pr
oduci
ngunpl
easantodor
s

Sour
cesofVOCs

Her
ear
esomecommonhousehol
dsour
cesofVOCs:

car
pet
ing,
lami
nat
e,andot
herf
loor
ing

sol
vent
sandadhesi
ves

pai
ntsandv
arni
shes

cl
eaner
sanddi
sinf
ect
ant
s

f
urni
tur
e

pest
ici
des

ai
rfr
eshener
s

cosmet
ics

deodor
ant
s
f
uel
sandoi
l
s

t
obaccosmokeande-
cigar
ett
es

dr
ycl
eanedpr
oduct
s

per
manentmar
ker
s

Out
sidet
hehome,
VOCsmayal
sost
em f
rom:

of
fi
cecopi
ersandpr
int
ers

di
esel
,gasol
i
ne,
andbi
ofuel
emi
ssi
ons

woodsmoke

oi
landgaspr
ocessi
ng

ot
heri
ndust
ri
alpr
ocesses

bui
l
dingandpai
nti
ngmat
eri
als

phar
maceut
ical
processes

i
nci
ner
ati
ngwast
e

wi
l
dfi
res

Howdoev
ery
daychemi
cal
scont
ri
but
etomor
tal
i
tyf
rom ai
rpol
l
uti
on?

Howt
oreduceVOCs

Her
ear
esomet
ipsf
orr
educi
ngexposur
etoVOCs:

Vent
il
ateroomswherehighlevel
sofVOCsmaybepr
esent
,fori
nst
ance,
inpai
nt,
sol
vent
pr
oducts,
print
ers,
andcopiers.

Leav
enewcar
pet
sandot
herpr
oduct
sout
sidet
oai
rbef
orei
nst
all
i
ng.

St
orepai
ntsandot
herpr
oduct
sout
sidet
hehome,
ifpossi
ble.

Av
oidsmoki
ng,
especi
all
yindoor
s.

Al
way
sfol
l
owt
hesaf
etyi
nst
ruct
ionswhenusi
ngpr
oduct
sthatpr
oduceVOCs.
Lookf
or“
lowVOCs”onpr
oductl
abel
s.

Choosemet
hodsofpestcont
rol
andhousehol
dcl
eani
ngt
hatar
elessl
i
kel
ytopr
oduceVOCs.

Amidconcer
nsabouttheef
fectsofVOCsonhumanandenvi
ronmental
wel l
-bei
ng,sci
ent
ist
s
arel
ooki
ngforwaystomiti
gatetheunwant
edef
fect
sofVOCs.Theapproachesincl
udeTr
usted
Sour
ce:

f
indi
ngal
ter
nat
ivest
oVOCs

devel
opingmateri
alsandprocessesthatcanr
educet
hepr
esenceofVOCs,
fori
nst
ance,
by
absor
bingthem orchangi
ngtheirst
ructur
e

moni
tor
ingandr
egul
ati
ngt
hei
rusebyor
gani
zat
ionssuchast
heEPA

r
educi
ngorbanni
ngt
heuseofcer
tai
nsubst
ances

Seeourgr
eencl
eani
ngpr
oduct
sgui
det
ohel
pav
oidVOCsi
nthehome.

Fr
equent
lyaskedquest
ions

Her
ear
esomeanswer
stoquest
ionspeopl
eof
tenaskaboutVOCs.

Whatl
evel
ofVOCsi
sdanger
ous?

Thereisnosinglemeasure,
asanytoxiceff
ectswill
dependonthet
ypeofVOC,the
concentr
ati
on,andthelengt
hofexposure.Anysafetymeasur
ement
swil
ldependonthe
i
ndivi
dualsubstanceandthecont
extinwhichitoccurs.

DoVOCsst
ayi
nthebody
?

VOCsmaynotst
ayi
nthebodyf
orev
er,
butt
heycanbui
l
dupt
othepoi
ntt
hatt
heybecome
har
mful
.

Ar epor
tf r
om theAgencyf
orToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegist
ryst
atesthatVOCsdonot
stayinthebodyf oral
ongti
me, buti
fapersonhasrepeatedexposuret
ot hem,theymay
accumul atet
ohighenoughlev
elstocausehealthpr
oblems.
Ar
edi
oxi
nst
hesameasVOCs?

Dioxi
nsar eanotherhazardousty
peofpol
l
uti
on,
butt
heyar
edi
ff
erentf
rom VOCs.Theyar
e
persi
stentorganicpol
lutants.

Lear
nmor
eaboutdi
oxi
ns.

Summar
y

VOCsarepresenti
nmanypr
oduct
sandpr
ocessesr
angi
ngf
rom bui
l
dingmat
eri
alst
o
cosmet
ics.

Howev er
,dependi
ngont heindi
vidual
subst
ance,exposuretoVOCscanaffectaper
son’
sheal
th
thr
oughairwayirr
it
ati
on,organdamage,CNSdisturbances,
andpossi
blycancer
.VOCsalso
contr
ibut
etoenv i
ronmentalpol
luti
onandcl
imatechange.

Waysofreduci
ngexposur
etoVOCsincl
udeensur
ingadequat
ev ent
il
ati
oni
nrooms,
seeki
ngout
al
ter
nat
iveproduct
s,andf
oll
owi
nganysafet
yinst
ruct
ionsonproductl
abel
s.

LungCancer
Publ
i
cHeal
thRespi
rat
ory
Env
ironment/Wat
er/Pol
l
uti
onEnv
ironment
/Sust
ainabi
l
ity

Howwer
evi
ewedt
hisar
ti
cl
e:

SOURCES

Shar
ethi
sar
ti
cle

RELATEDCOVERAGE

Mi
l
dser
otoni
nsy
ndr
omesy
mpt
omsandt
reat
ment

Medi
cal
l
yrev
iewedbyAl
anCar
ter
,Phar
m.D.
Mil
dserot
oninsy
ndr
omesy mpt
omscanincl
udemil
dt r
emors,
rest
lessness,
andheadaches.
Thesy
mpt omscanbecomesev
erewi
thoutt
reat
ment.Lear
nmore…

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