The Poisoned Weed Plants Toxic to Skin

by Crosby, Donald G.

• ISBN13: 9780195155488
• ISBN10: 0195155483
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

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 ofthem--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.

Author Biography

With a Ph.D. in chemistry and plant biology from Caltech and eight years in the chemical industry, Donald Crosby has taught and conducted research on toxic plants, their products, and other toxic substances for over 40 years at the University of California at Davis. He founded the UC Davis' Environmental Toxicology Department and the American Chemical Society's Division of Pesticide Chemistry, and has written or co-authored more than 230 papers and books. Now emeritus, he continues to teach about the environment and toxic plants

Table of Contents

The Setting	3	(19)
History	3	(3)
The Plants	6	(3)
The Poisons	9	(3)
Skin	12	(3)
Exposure	15	(1)
Adverse Effects	16	(3)
Prevention and Treatment	19	(1)
Conclusions	20	(2)
Poison Oaks, Poison Ivies, and Relatives	22	(17)
Family Ties: The Anacardiaceae	22	(1)
Toxicodendrons	22	(10)
What to Look For	32	(1)
Habitats and Geographical Distribution	33	(3)
Propagation	36	(1)
Conclusions	37	(2)
Other Allergenic Plants	39	(27)
Dermatotoxic Plants	39	(1)
More Anacardiaceae	39	(8)
Quinone-Containing Plants	47	(4)
Asteraceae (Compositae)	51	(7)
Other Flowering Plants	58	(5)
Lower Plants	63	(1)
Photoallergenic Plants	64	(1)
Conclusions	65	(1)
Phototoxic and Irritant Plants	66	(21)
Phototoxic Plants	66	(7)
Irritant Plants	73	(13)
Conclusions	86	(1)
Allergens Related to Urushiol	87	(21)
Urushioid Allergens	87	(1)
Urushiols and Laccols	87	(5)
Isolation, Identification, and Analysis	92	(5)
Physical and Environmental Properties	97	(4)
Reactions with Proteins	101	(1)
Synthetic Urushioids	102	(1)
Natural Urushioids	103	(3)
Conclusions	106	(2)
Other Plant Allergens	108	(20)
Other Kinds of Allergens	108	(1)
Quinones and Hydroquinones	108	(5)
Lactones	113	(6)
Acetylenic Alcohols	119	(1)
Essential Oils	120	(4)
Lichen Substances	124	(2)
Rubber Latex	126	(1)
Conclusions	126	(2)
Phototoxic and Irritant Constituents	128	(23)
More Dermatotoxicity	128	(1)
Photodynamic Agents	128	(7)
Irritant Esters	135	(5)
Organosulfur Compounds	140	(7)
Irritant Amines and Amides	147	(2)
Calcium Oxalate	149	(1)
Conclusions	149	(2)
Exposure	151	(21)
Forms of Exposure	151	(1)
Direct (Primary) Exposure	152	(5)
Casual (Nonoccupational) Exposure	157	(6)
Indirect (Secondary) Exposure	163	(2)
Individual Characteristics	165	(1)
Cross-reactions	165	(2)
Economic Significance	167	(1)
Limiting Exposure	168	(3)
Conclusions	171	(1)
Adverse Effects	172	(21)
Intoxication	172	(1)
Penetration	172	(3)
``Toxicity''	175	(1)
Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis	176	(5)
Mechanisms	181	(5)
Tumorigenesis	186	(1)
Sensitivity Differences	187	(1)
Relation of Structure to Activity	188	(3)
Conclusions	191	(2)
Prevention and Treatment	193	(14)
Prevention and Treatment	193	(1)
Patch Tests	193	(2)
Prevention	195	(4)
Treatment: What Works, What Doesn't	199	(2)
``Rational'' Treatment	201	(2)
Future Possibilities	203	(2)
Conclusions	205	(2)
Appendices	207	(8)
References	215	(32)
Glossary	247	(4)
Index of Plant Names	251	(8)
Index of Chemical Common Names	259	(4)
General Index	263