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| Country Living (March 2007) |
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Smoking ivy dangerous
You may have heard of the poetic poison-ivy warning, “leaves of three let it be.” But how about now in early spring? Do you have to worry if no leaves are present?
“Absolutely,” says Jonathon Sachs, who runs the Web site www.poison-ivy.org. “The stems and roots contain lots of ‘urushiol,’ the chemical substance that causes the painful ivy rash.”
Sachs advises extreme care if you have to work in an area that might have poison ivy. “The bare stems and roots can be very difficult to identify,” he states, “so cover up exposed skin and use care when you take off that outer clothing. Gloves, boots, and jackets can transfer the urushiol onto your skin.”
Let it rot
If you are considering burning a brush pile that contains poison ivy, Sachs recommends you reconsider.
“Smoke from burning poison ivy can also cause allergic reactions on your skin, nose, and mouth,” he says. “Better to play it safe and move the bush to a spot where it can simply decompose.”
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