poison ivy

[MrBill]

just recently found you can get poison ivy by cutting and handling the leafless vine just wondering if anybody know the dangers of inhaling the vines dust (from the saw cutting it, chippers etc) if there is any?
thanks

 

[Anonymity]

I've heard inhaling the smoke can be really bad...if you're burning the stuff. I understand it's the oils in the plant...so it doesn't matter if it's leaves, bark, wood chips etc. If it has the oil on it watch out.

But,

With all that said in my experience, and I have a fair bit, some people are allergic to it and some aren't. I've met people who just seem to have to look at it and they're reacting, but I've worked with flying squirrel researchers who were pretty much rolling in the stuff every day and had know reaction.

Ken

 

[Colin]

+1 Ken beat me to it.

Cut plenty and effects were only topical. It is an oil in the plant that gets thrown around when cut or chipped, which is why even if you're covered well, you can usually find a speck or two. I wouldn't recommend standin by the chip chute,or burning it though. Buddy of mine looked like Igor after he put some on the fire without realizing it

 

[MrBill]

yeah ive been getting it since i was a kid but only had it on my skin , i was just curious if anybody heard of it going to the lungs mouth or throat.

thanks

 

[Treezybreez]

I have had it pretty bad in the lungs. It started when I decided to mow the weeds on the edge of some woods. Apparently I mowed a whole patch of poison ivy and I ended up getting it all over my arms, legs and lungs.

One of my grand fathers was not allergic to poison ivy and he used to burn it for the Rail Road.

 

[MrBill]

what type of reaction did u get with the lungs? did you have to go to the hospital?

 

[lumbermac]

If you know that you have been in contact with the oil, Washing with Tecnu really helps. If you already have the rash use Zanfel. You can get both at Walgreens. Zanfel is about $42.00-$45.00/oz but works great.

 

[MrBill]

ive been using tecnu and i though it worked pretty good, i will try zanfel, thanks.
being my wife is breast feeding our new borns she suggests breast milk is the cure all and will work. ha i laughed but then found it online! if it gets me holding my little ones with less fear of spreading it to them i will give it a shot.
thanks again for all the info!

 

[Adkpk]

It can't be transferred from skin. Something in skin neutralizes it. But if the oil is on your clothing it can be spread that way.

You wrote, "new borns" twins? Good luck with that. (Must be fun to have Mr. Bill as a dad. lol)

 

[MrBill]

wow was not aware of that! good to know..
yeah boy and a girl about a month old (first kids)
its a lot of work!! i help when i can but the wife is the true champ up all night!

 

[Jasonk]

We keep tecnu in all the trucks. After exposure we will wash down right on the job. Zanfell is worth the money, I used to need to go on prentazone about once a year until I found out about it.