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Democrat & Chronicle: Living
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Poison ivy, fueled by increased carbon
dioxide, may become more stubborn
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Sam Bolz
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(June 25, 2007) — You've probably been there — the
bumps, the itching, the frantic phone calls to the nearest
doctor or mother figure.
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The good news is that you aren't alone — up to 85 percent
of people are susceptible to poison ivy's namesake
defense.
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Associated Press file photo 2000
A new study reports that increased levels of carbon
dioxide will make poison ivy more virulent.
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The bad news? If you are one of the world's 5 billion
susceptible people, your relationship with the dreaded vine is
probably going to get worse.
Scientists involved in a six-year study at Duke University have
found that increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's
atmosphere are causing vines to grow bigger, stronger and more
dominant. In poison ivy, that results in a larger, more abundant
and more potent leaf.
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To avoid poison ivy, you have to accurately
identify it. The FDA lists the following poison ivy
characteristics:
!
Poison ivy features three leaflets branching
from one common stem, which is often reddish
in color.
!
The rise in carbon dioxide comes primarily from fossil fuel
emissions, says Jacqueline Mohan, research ecologist at the
Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory in Massachusetts and
lead researcher on the study. The greenhouse gas provides
plants, which remove CO2 from the air, more fuel for
photosynthesis and growth.
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Whether the impact on vines is nature's first jab at revenge or just
another trailside nuisance, poison ivy is poised to become
painfully relevant.
It can grow as woody, ropelike vine on trees;
a trailing shrub on the ground or as a freestanding shrub.
!
Its leaflets often appear shiny.
Many other plants feature these characteristics.
For photos to help you identify poison ivy, go to:
!
http://poisonivy.aesir.com
!
www.savorlife.com/main_garden.htm and
click on the box elder photo
!
www.poison-ivy.org
"Poison ivy is growing 149 percent faster than previous records show," says Mohan.
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"A chemical shift is also occurring in the plant's leaves, causing them to produce a more toxic urushiol."
Urushiol is the plant's oily defense mechanism. A more toxic urushiol means that even the slightest of exposures
could lead to a severe reaction.
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Walt Nelson, horticulture program leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, says only time will
tell about the potential impact on poison ivy. "In day-to-day observations we won't see anything significant, but
when we go back and look at the data after a number of years we'll see the changes."
Dave Dailey, president of Birchcrest Tree and Landscape in Webster, knows the plant's effects well. "Our guys are
being treated on a daily basis," he says.
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One reason that poison ivy exposure is so common is that when urushiol rubs onto surfaces — pants, shoes, even
pets — it stays on.
"If you aren't properly washing clothes and outdoor gear with hot water and detergent, the allergen can stay on
these for months, even years," says Dr. Robert Cole, chairman of Lifetime Health's Family Practice Department.
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"Pets can pick it up in the backyard, come into your house, sit on the couch and soon everyone in the family has
it," Dailey says.
Even city dwellers are not completely safe. In fact, they might be in for the trend's most noticeable effects.
"In general, large cities are hotter and have higher levels of CO2," Mohan says, "so poison ivy could become even
more of a problem in downtown Rochester."
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Cole says that although poison ivy is virtually unavoidable, the reaction is manageable if dealt with quickly upon
contact.
"If you think you've been exposed, your best bet is to try to gently wash the oil off with cool or lukewarm water," he
says.
Cole also recommends using IvyBlock, the only FDA-approved product to shield the skin from poison ivy. Even
with it, both Cole and Dailey admit that exposure is still possible.
While the reaction is generally localized and not dangerous to overall health, Cole warns that some people are at
risk for a secondary allergic reaction: "If you're experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing, or showing signs that
the reaction could be affecting your whole body, you need to contact a doctor immediately."
Wary property owners have a few choices to get rid of the plant, although its distinct hardiness usually requires a
few combinations and a bit of creativity. Specialized vine herbicides paired with careful physical removal generally
produce good results; either way, a great deal of patience and perseverance is important.
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Democrat & Chronicle: Living
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Perhaps most important is what not to do: Never burn it. Burning poison ivy sends the urushiol skyward, coating
the lungs, throat and mouth if inhaled.
And never use a weed-whacker or chipper on the vines. "Every orifice you have will have poison ivy in it — your
ears, your eyes, your mouth," Dailey says.
The explosive vine growth also has environmental implications. Vines grow by stealing sunlight from other plants
and trees, so a more efficient growth process means that other vegetation won't get the sun needed to survive.
"Those most affected are juvenile trees," Mohan says. "Poison ivy's vines can easily smother, choke out these
young trees. Imagine losing an entire population of junior high students — think about that future."
SBOLZ@Gannett.com
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