The Poisoned Weed: Plants Toxic to Skin

by Donald G. Crosby

Overview

Over-two thirds of the U.S. population is allergic to poison oak, poison ivy, or a related plant. These and many other common plants in our homes, fields, and gardens are irritants that cause misery to many. But surprisingly, there has never been a general guide to help raise awareness of them--and to help avoid them. This new book reviews the history, occurrence, classification, toxicity, and health aspects of all the major allergenic and irritant species.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190288709
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	5 MB

Table of Contents

1	The Setting	3
1.1	History	3
1.2	The Plants	6
1.3	The Poisons	9
1.4	Skin	12
1.5	Exposure	15
1.6	Adverse Effects	16
1.7	Prevention and Treatment	19
1.8	Conclusions	20
2	Poison Oaks, Poison Ivies, and Relatives	22
2.1	Family Ties: The Anacardiaceae	22
2.2	Toxicodendrons	22
2.3	What to Look For	32
2.4	Habitats and Geographical Distribution	33
2.5	Propagation	36
2.6	Conclusions	37
3	Other Allergenic Plants	39
3.1	Dermatotoxic Plants	39
3.2	More Anacardiaceae	39
3.3	Quinone-Containing Plants	47
3.4	Asteraceae (Compositae)	51
3.5	Other Flowering Plants	58
3.6	Lower Plants	63
3.7	Photoallergenic Plants	64
3.8	Conclusions	65
4	Phototoxic and Irritant Plants	66
4.1	Phototoxic Plants	66
4.2	Irritant Plants	73
4.3	Conclusions	86
5	Allergens Related to Urushiol	87
5.1	Urushioid Allergens	87
5.2	Urushiols and Laccols	87
5.3	Isolation, Identification, and Analysis	92
5.4	Physical and Environmental Properties	97
5.5	Reactions with Proteins	101
5.6	Synthetic Urushioids	102
5.7	Natural Urushioids	103
5.8	Conclusions	106
6	Other Plant Allergens	108
6.1	Other Kinds of Allergens	108
6.2	Quinones and Hydroquinones	108
6.3	Lactones	113
6.4	Acetylenic Alcohols	119
6.5	Essential Oils	120
6.6	Lichen Substances	124
6.7	Rubber Latex	126
6.8	Conclusions	126
7	Phototoxic and Irritant Constituents	128
7.1	More Dermatotoxicity	128
7.2	Photodynamic Agents	128
7.3	Irritant Esters	135
7.4	Organosulfur Compounds	140
7.5	Irritant Amines and Amides	147
7.6	Calcium Oxalate	149
7.7	Conclusions	149
8	Exposure	151
8.1	Forms of Exposure	151
8.2	Direct (Primary) Exposure	152
8.3	Casual (Nonoccupational) Exposure	157
8.4	Indirect (Secondary) Exposure	163
8.5	Individual Characteristics	165
8.6	Cross-reactions	165
8.7	Economic Significance	167
8.8	Limiting Exposure	168
8.9	Conclusions	171
9	Adverse Effects	172
9.1	Intoxication	172
9.2	Penetration	172
9.3	"Toxicity"	175
9.4	Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis	176
9.5	Mechanisms	181
9.6	Tumorigenesis	186
9.7	Sensitivity Differences	187
9.8	Relation of Structure to Activity	188
9.9	Conclusions	191
10	Prevention and Treatment	193
10.1	Prevention and Treatment	193
10.2	Patch Tests	193
10.3	Prevention	195
10.4	Treatment: What Works, What Doesn't	199
10.5	"Rational" Treatment	201
10.6	Future Possibilities	203
10.7	Conclusions	205
	Appendices	207
	References	215
	Glossary	247
	Index of Plant Names	251
	Index of Chemical Common Names	259
	General Index	263

Editorial Reviews

3 Stars from Doody

Reviewer: Patricia Wong, MD (Private Practice)
Description: This is an educational little book that is enjoyable to read. The author has a PhD in chemistry and plant biology and has done a good job summarizing the different plants, their oils, airborne pollens, and their fragrances that can contribute to dermatitis. Chemical structures are provided in detail and the chemistry used to study these plants is covered: vapor pressure of volatile dermatotoxic chemicals, etc.
Purpose: The purpose is to educate practitioners about allergic contact dermatitis and irritant dermatitis. Readers could take this one step further and use the book in planning their gardens to be potentially less inflammatory to their skin. Anyone who has a job outside and has had periodic skin problems may want to refer to this book or refer their physician to the book to identify precipitants.
Audience: The audience is anyone with occupational exposure to plants, biology students, physicians caring for patients with plant exposure and anyone who likes plants. The book deals with history, chemistry, prevention, and cross reactivity of plants.
Features: Color photographs of some of the more common nasty plants causing allergic dermatitis are included. I found myself wishing the author had written the book like the encyclopedia section of the Sunset Western Garden Annual (Sunset, 2004) with pictures of all the plants, but instead of including their growth requirements list their potential toxicities. I like the writer's style; it is like reading a story filled with all sorts of interesting facts.
Assessment: I've read a lot of the books on this subject and this is by far the most readable. There are more comprehensive books written by MDs, but it's always good to have another perspective on the topic and this book is worth reading before you decide to plant that fig tree you've always coveted!

Doody's Review Service