Forbes: Poison Ivy Getting Meaner

[dubeskin]

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2006/05/30/hscout532977.html

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TUESDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) -- An annoying consequence of global warming could be a dramatic increase in the amount of poison ivy and its ability to cause allergic reactions, researchers report.

About 80 percent of people develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy that includes an itchy rash and blisters, caused by skin contact with the oily sap -- or resin -- of the plant. As the virulence of the plant increases due to global warming from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, even more people will be susceptible, the researchers suggest.

"Under atmospheric carbon dioxide (C02) concentrations that the whole planet will reach by the middle of this century, poison ivy grows not only faster and bigger, but also more poisonous," said study lead author Jacqueline E. Mohan, a post-doctoral scientist at the Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, at Woods Hole, Mass.

Only humans and some apes are allergic to poison ivy, Mohan noted. But with carbon dioxide levels increasing, Mohan suspects the plant's growth rate and virulence are already on the rise.

"It makes the forest an even scarier place," Mohan said. "But not just forest -- backyards too. Poison ivy is a remarkable plant. It can grow just about anywhere."

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Bad news for everyone. Also, obviously this is my first time starting a topic. If there is anything wrong with the format or anything, please tell me so I can improve next time. Thanks.

[Lasher]

1. The format is just fine

Interesting topic for your first thread. Most of the time I am unaffected by contact with poison ivy, but some years I have allergic reactions like most other people. I thought the differences were being brought about by something going on with me, but it looks like it's occasional changes in the plant's potency.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[I_Make_Mistakes]

2. I got poison ivy as a kid, in college I could've made $80 bucks

to get poison ivy and it didn't happen. There was a testing facility on campus, it was a very small exposure to test treatments. Anyways, I think this was on Leher last night also.

I wonder what other nasty things are gonna haunt us with global warming, the wasps, spiders and mosquito's have already been bothersome and it is only May (well until 2 1/2 hours ago).

[AndyTiedye]

3. Makes Me Itch Just Thinking About It

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. saw this on CNN tonight...

very freaky!

thanks for the post!

:) or :( whatever