Spreading the Word
Typical Appearances
Briefing
Prevention
First Aid
Medical Care
Identification
Stems
Reproduction
Foliage
Risk Management
Total Avoidance
Reduced Risk
Calculated Risk
Morro Bay State Park
North of MBSP
South of MBSP
Biochemistry
Anecdotes
Bibliography
Appendices
Risk Management
Principal: Soap and water float the oil away, and destroy some of the allergen:
- Warn the people who handle your laundry. Contaminated clothing should be bagged, or put directly in a washing machine. Bagged clothing should be put in a machine without being touched.
- Wash pets and horses. Dont touch pets that are running free.
- Clean leather carefully. For example, use saddle soap.
Japanese and Chinese lacquers are allergenic.
Principal: Poison-oak belongs to the plant family Anacardiaceae. About 30% of Anacardiaceae have poisonous sap. This plant family is mainly composed of tropical trees. Among them are the mango, cashew, pistachio, and Lithraea, a lumber tree in South America.
- Sap from the stems of mangoes is dangerous. Highly allergic individuals should avoid the fruit. Less sensitive people can choose mangoes that are free of depressed, sharp-margined black urushiol burns. All authors recommend discarding the peeling. Some authors additionally recommend wearing gloves while peeling the fruit.
- Cashews are roasted to drive of the allergenic oil. Inadequately heated nuts turn black.
- Pistachios are more weakly allergenic. Most people can consume them without problems.
- About 30% of people in Paraguay and adjacent Brazil are sensitive to oils in the wood used for making furniture there, Lithraea. Thorough drying of Lithraea lumber, followed by a coat of polyurethane, minimizes the problem.
