Any person working outdoors is at risk of exposure to 

poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison 

sumac. When in contact with skin, the sap oil (urushiol) of 

these plants can cause an allergic reaction. Burning these 

poisonous plants produces smoke that, when inhaled, can 

cause lung irritation.

Workers may become exposed through:

■ Direct contact with the plant

■ Indirect contact (touching tools, animals, or clothing 

with urushiol on them)

■ Inhalation of particles containing urushiol from burning 

plants

Symptoms of Skin Contact

■ Red rash within a few days of contact

■ Swelling

■ Itching

■ Possible bumps, patches, streaking or weeping blisters 

NOTE: Blister fluids are not contagious

First Aid

If you are exposed to a poisonous plant:

■ Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, poison 

plant wash, or degreasing soap (such as dishwashing 

soap) or detergent, and lots of water.

ӽ Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on 

the skin and further spread the urushiol.

■ Scrub under nails with a brush.

■ Apply wet compresses, calamine lotion, or 

hydrocortisone cream to the skin to reduce itching and 

blistering.

ӽ Oatmeal baths may relieve itching.

■ An antihistamine may help relieve itching.

ӽ NOTE: Drowsiness may occur.

■ In severe cases or if the rash is on the face or genitals, 

seek professional medical attention.

■ Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you have 

a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty 

breathing, or have had a severe reaction in the past.

Poisonous Plants

Protecting Yourself from

Fast Facts
Protect Yourself

■ Wear long sleeves, long pants, boots, and gloves. 

ӽ Wash exposed clothing separately in hot water with 

detergent.

■ Barrier skin creams, such as lotion containing 

bentoquatum, may offer some protection.

■ After use, clean tools with rubbing alcohol or soap and 

lots of water. Urushiol can remain active on the surface of 

objects for up to 5 years. 

ӽ Wear disposable gloves during this process.

■ Do not burn plants or brush piles that may contain 

poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.

ӽ Inhaling smoke from burning plants can cause severe 

allergic respiratory problems.

When exposure to burning poisonous plants is unavoidable, 

employers should provide workers with:

■ A NIOSH-certified half-face piece particulate respirator 

rated R–95, P–95, or better. This recommendation does 

NOT apply to wildland firefighters, who may require a 

higher level of protection. 

■ These respirators should protect against exposure to burning 

poisonous plants, but will not protect against all possible 

combustion products in smoke, such as carbon monoxide. 

■ Respirators must be worn correctly and consistently 

throughout the time they are used. 

■ For respirators to be effective there must be a tight seal 

between the user’s face and the respirator. 

■ Respirators must be used in the context of a written 

comprehensive respiratory protection program (see 

OSHA Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR 

1910.134).

■ For more information about respirators, visit

www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/

Poisonous plants, from left to right: poison ivy, 

poison oak, poison sumac. 

Images courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010–118

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

safer • healthier • peopleTM