|
Monitoring Monday –Poisonous Plant Safety
Join us Mondays as the Clean Water Team shares information and resources on water quality monitoring. This Monday we look at poisonous plant safety.
Anyone who spends time outside in wild environments is at risk of exposure to poisonous plants.
The most common hazards of poisonous plants arise from allergic contact dermatitis from the oil of ubiquitous plants. However, rashes and lung irritation from contact with damaged or burning poisonous plants such as during a wildfire.
Workers and volunteer conducting monitoring activities may become exposed through direct contact with the plant, indirect contact (touching tools, animals, or clothing with poisonous plant oils on them), or through Inhalation of particles containing urushiol from burning plants.
|
PREVENTION
Don’t touch unfamiliar plants. It is important to know which species you have and to check both the non-toxic plant list as well as the toxic plant list to make sure the plants you are working among are safe.
Wear protective clothing when out in nature. Clothing that completely covers the arms and legs (long sleeved shirts and long pants) can reduce exposure. Unfortunately, long sleeves and pants do not fully protect travelers. Someone may contaminate themself by touching clothing that has been in contact with a poisonous plant. Leather gloves will reduce exposure to the hands. Boots and socks will reduce exposure to the feet and ankles.
Barrier skin creams, such as lotion containing bentoquatum, may offer some protection.
Avoid poisonous plants by adopting new field practices. Consider using flagging tied to a large washer placed in a strategic way instead of placing survey flags in patches of poisonous plants. Use poles or stadia rods to access overgrown streambanks when making some stream measurements so that direct contact with poisonous plants can be avoided.
Clean tools which may have been exposed and become contaminated with plant oils. After use, clean tools with rubbing alcohol or soap and lots of water. Urushiol can remain active on the surface of objects for up to 5 years. Be sure to wear disposable gloves during this process.
Clothing that has been exposed should be promptly washed. Clothing can also retain the stinging nettle hair cells and toxins. These can be removed by washing the exposed clothing separately in hot water with detergent before wearing again.
Consider taking a backpack with a plant identification guide, protective gloves, bottled water, a couple of trash bags, and a first aid kit with these elements:
- Barrier creams
- Degreasing soap
- Wipes and bandages
- Over-the-counter pain meds like ibuprofen
- Creams or lotions formulated to treat the pain and itching of skin rashes
SYMPTOMS OF SKIN CONTACT
Signs or symptoms associated with skin contact with poisonous plants may include:
- Itching
- Red rash ash within a few days of contact
- Bumps, red patches or streaking, or weeping blisters. (NOTE: fluids in blisters will not cause blisters to spread on you or to others).
- Swelling
|
TREATMENT
If a worker or volunteer develops a reaction from a work-related exposure, they should follow the work-related injury and illness reporting procedure.
Workers who have come in contact with poisonous plants should take these steps:
If you are exposed to a poisonous plant:
- Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, poison plant wash, or degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap) or detergent, and lots of water. Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on the skin and further spread the urushiol.
- Scrub under nails with a brush.
- Apply wet compresses or calamine lotion. Over the counter treatments for allergic reactions to poisonous plants include wet compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream and an oral antihistamine to relieve itching (NOTE: Drowsiness may occur.)
- In severe cases or if the rash is on the face or genitals, seek professional medical attention.
- Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you or another worker:
- Has a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing.
- Has had a severe reaction to poisonous plants in the past.
HAZARDOUS PLANT EXAMPLES
Cacti (Cactaceae) - Cactus needles can be dangerous because they are sharp and have a lot of surface area. They can cause skin infections, puncture wounds, and other injuries. The needles contain chemicals that may irritate the eyes or skin.
If you have ever been accidentally pricked by a cholla cactus, it is critical that you follow the proper steps to ensure that the wound is properly treated, and any cactus spines are removed (see references below).
Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) - Touching jimsonweed could cause minor to severe skin irritations, especially in people with sensitive skin. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching jimsonweed to avoid poisoning through mucus membranes. Ingesting jimsonweed can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, convulsions, seizures, hallucinations, cardiac arrhythmia, urinary retention, coma, and death.
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) - Mild to severe cases of hemlock poisoning could result in nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, sweating, weakness, low blood pressure, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis, organ failure, and death. One of the most dangerous plants found in California is poison hemlock when ingested. Though touching this plant might not cause poisoning symptoms, its toxins could seep into skin wounds and scrapes. Or poison hemlock toxin could transfer to your eyes, nose, or mouth from your hands. For this reason, it’s important to wear gloves and protective clothing when handling this and other highly poisonous plants.
Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) - All parts of poison oak plants contain an oil which can cause an irritating and sometimes severe dermatitis for many people who come in contact with the oil or its dried residue (even from bare stems or branches in winter). An itchy rash usually appears several hours after exposure. The extent of sensitivity or immunity for an individual can change over time. Often, the more an individual is exposed, the more sensitive he or she may become. The oil clings to and can be transferred from clothing, footwear, backpacks, etc., and pet fur. The oil can be extremely hazardous when released in smoke from burning poison oak.
Immediate treatment can consist of repeated rinsing of the affected area with large quantities of water. Another treatment consists of thorough washing with soap and water within 2-8 hours of exposure to remove the oil. Washing with soap and water also removes skin oils that protect against the toxins. Exposure to poison oak for 3-6 hours after washing with soap and water may result in an increased reaction to the toxin. Topical applications of hydrocortisone may relieve the symptoms. Various specialized products are now available to help block contact or remove oil. Professional medical treatment is recommended for severe reactions.
Poodle Dog Bush (Turricula parryi / Nama parryi) - Toxins in the plant cause a contact dermatitis similar to poison oak. It is uncertain but likely that the toxins are carried in smoke from burning this plant. Prevention: Learn what the Poodle Dog Bush looks like and avoid it.
Treatments are similar to those for poison oak.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) - The small, hardened tips of many stinging nettle hair cells contain toxic fluid and break off easily on contact, penetrating the skin, and this results in reddening, itching, swelling, and a temporary but intense painful burning sensation. Some people can experience anaphylactic shock from the toxins. Dogs that have run through stinging nettle for any length of time have been observed to experience more severe reactions. The plant is a major nuisance to recreationists, ranchers, and land management specialists, because it produces impenetrable, unmanageable thickets along waterways and in other riparian areas.
The best treatment for contact with stinging nettle consists of washing thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible and lightly scraping the skin to remove the imbedded hair tips. Topical analgesic skin medications will relieve symptoms, while they last (usually a relatively short time.)
ALLERGIES
Hundreds of plant species release pollen every year to the air, which in many individuals cause allergic reactions. A fairly limited number of plant pollens are responsible for itchy, red and watery eyes associated with hay fever. People can also have skin rashes (hives or skin welts) after exposure to grasses, but this is much less common.
There are many strategies people can use to reduce the chance of symptoms such as staying indoors on says with high pollen counts. Medicines are also available to treat symptoms of allergy. Susceptible individuals should ask their doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Common triggers:
- Trees like birch, cypress, cedar, elm, grasses, oak, pine, poplar, and walnut
- Flowering plants like cocklebur, ragweed, and sagebrush.
- Grasses
REFERENCES
9 Dangerous Plants Found In California You Should Never Touch - https://a-z-animals.com/blog/dangerous-plants-found-in-california-you-should-never-touch/
Cactus Dermatitis - https://escholarship.org/content/qt87v8v850/cholla2.html
Don't Touch These Plants - www.fws.gov/story/dont-touch-these-plants
Dangerous Plants for People Prone to Allergy - www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-plants-trees
How to Remove Cactus Needles - https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Cactus-Needles
Insect Bites, Wildlife Diseases, Dangerous Plants - https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/insect-wildlife-plant-hazards.htm
California Poison Control System (CPCS) Plants -https://calpoison.org/topics/plant
Poison Ivy, Oak, And Sumac: How Can I Prevent a Rash? - https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/poison-ivy/prevent-rash
Poison Ivy, Oak, And Sumac: How to Treat the Rash -https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/poison-ivy/treat-rash Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kg-SG-WQTM
Poisonous Plants - www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/plants/default.html
Poisonous Plants Sequoia National Forest - www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd614371.pdf
Poisonous Plants: Symptoms and First Aid - www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/plants/symptoms.html
Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants - www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-118/pdfs/2010-118.pdf
Removal of Cactus Spines from The Skin. A Comparative Evaluation of Several Methods - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3687870/
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this message are for general informational purposes only. Any information about providers and services contained on this website does not constitute endorsement or recommendation.
|
