| I'm not a doctor so I can't address the issue with sinus infection / sore throat. I can though point to some great online literature which details the poison ivy plant, urushiol oil, and the body's reaction to urushiol. One website I found to be very informative is Clemson Biology Merit Exam. This is an online exam with 2 parts - the questions and answers. I found the information contained there to be incisive. Apparently, urushiol oil is heavy. And as was mentioned the oil is not on the leaf but is in the resin channels in the leaf, stem and fruit. The leaf must be injured to release the urushiol (not unusual - as the leaf is quite tender. Bugs like to eat it, animals brush up against leaves, etc.). It would take some sort of act to propel the urushiol to make it airborn such as when the plant is on fire. Normal everyday actions should not be an issue unless of course you ran over the plant with a mower and spewed the plant and its urushiol oil all over.
Hope this info helps.... |
