http://poisonivyrashguide.com/tips-to-avoid-poison-ivy/ Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:06:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://poisonivyrashguide.com/tips-to-avoid-poison-ivy/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Sandra Baker Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:28:34 +0000 http://poisonivyrashguide.com/?p=15#comment-172 I'm adding to my above post with a statement by William Epstein in 1986 in a newspaper article. He was the foremost poison oak and ivy rash researcher in the US until his death a few years ago. He says if a hunter, for instance hangs up his vest without washing, the sap can stay there for years without losing its potency. When it is worn again, it can spread dermatitis. "Washing is the only way to rid clothing of the oil". I'm writing a book about po & pi, (lots of it here in southern oregon), and had this old article from when I wrote a booklet on the subject long ago. I’m adding to my above post with a statement by William Epstein in 1986 in a newspaper article. He was the foremost poison oak and ivy rash researcher in the US until his death a few years ago.
He says if a hunter, for instance hangs up his vest without washing, the sap can stay there for years without losing its potency. When it is worn again, it can spread dermatitis. “Washing is the only way to rid clothing of the oil”.
I’m writing a book about po & pi, (lots of it here in southern oregon), and had this old article from when I wrote a booklet on the subject long ago.

]]> http://poisonivyrashguide.com/tips-to-avoid-poison-ivy/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Sandra Baker Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:34:38 +0000 http://poisonivyrashguide.com/?p=15#comment-171 Sorry, but I have an issue with the comment that the oil from a poison oak or ivy plant will evaporate from your clothes. This is the most powerful allergen known, and it is is one of the least volatile. In about 4 hours it will oxidize and become hard, especially in a moist environment. It looses its toxicity over time, but in a sheltered spot can last for hundreds of years and still give someone a rash, as archeologists have found out. In the sun, dry, the oil will oxidize slower than with moisture, and will stay toxic longer. Washing clothes with strong detergent seems to help, but in India they use, or did use the oil from the marking tree, a relative, on clothes in laundry shops, and especially Americans would get rashes on their necks. Sorry, but I have an issue with the comment that the oil from a poison oak or ivy plant will evaporate from your clothes. This is the most powerful allergen known, and it is is one of the least volatile.
In about 4 hours it will oxidize and become hard, especially in a moist environment. It looses its toxicity over time, but in a sheltered spot can last for hundreds of years and still give someone a rash, as archeologists have found out.
In the sun, dry, the oil will oxidize slower than with moisture, and will stay toxic longer.
Washing clothes with strong detergent seems to help, but in India they use, or did use the oil from the marking tree, a relative, on clothes in laundry shops, and especially Americans would get rashes on their necks.

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