From jwright@telusplanet.net Sat Sep 20 22:30:31 1997 Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 23:45:09 -0600 From: jwright@telusplanet.net To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Help: rashes caused by handling produce Below is a message I forwarded to John Hendrick. Can anyone tell me whether my memory is accurate? John, I am reminded of an article I read a few years ago about the dangers of handling parsnips, celery and plants in the same family. The effect is evident from handling these plants when they have begun to wilt, and doesn't occur when they are fresh. The article mentioned that it was an occupational hazard of "produce handlers" and that the risk was well known there. The article did not mention rash but did say that the risk was from skin cancer. (Probably not melanoma, but one of the other ones-Jim) All the above is from memory, of an article I read 6-7 years ago. Hope it helps you track down the source of the problem. I think it is a serious health issue, and I have always been careful handling celery, parsnips, parsley, since reading the article. Jim >The produce manager at a food cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin is >desperately trying to find out why she and many of her staff have >been suffering from serious rashes on their hands and arms over the >past few years or more. They believe they've narrowed it down to >their handling of either watermelons or celery that is not certified >organic (i.e., "commercial"). They're concerned about long-term >effects; some are already left with scars from the rash. Does >anyone out there have any information on this? Is this common in >produce retail? I'll forward her your replies, thankyou. > >-John > > >John Hendrickson >Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems >University of Wisconsin-Madison >1450 Linden Drive, Room 146 >Madison, WI 53706 >jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu >(608) 265-3704 >FAX (608) 265-3020 >http://www.wisc.edu/cias > > Jim Wright Box 129 Lougheed Alberta Canada T0B 2V0 403 386-2479 From Paul_Bubrick@npi-lv.ccmail.compuserve.com Sat Sep 20 22:44:29 1997 Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 20:45:16 -0400 From: Paul_Bubrick@npi-lv.ccmail.compuserve.com To: "INTERNET:sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu" , "INTERNET:jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu" Subject: Re: Help: rashes caused by handling produce Photoactivatable compounds called psoralens are common in celery. Their concentration is highest in leaves. Contact followed by exposure to sun will often result in rash, or symptoms similar to sunburn. I am not sure if leaf abrasion is needed to have this reaction; skin need not be damaged for the reaction. Some of the newer cultivars are so high that the leaves are not recommended for consumption althought the stalk is fine. I have read several trade articles suggesting the use of gloves and arm protection during celery harvest. Paul Bubrick ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Help: rashes caused by handling produce Author: INTERNET:jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu at CSERVE Date: 8/30/97 5:13 PM Sender: almanac-request@amani.ces.ncsu.edu Received: from amani.ces.ncsu.edu (amani.ces.ncsu.edu [152.1.45.51]) by hil-img-9.compuserve.com (8.8.6/8.8.6/2.5) with ESMTP id RAA04287; Sat, 30 Aug 1997 17:13:02 -0400 (EDT) Received: (daemon@localhost) by amani.ces.ncsu.edu (8.8.5/RK-970619.0) id QAA0193 4 for sanet-real; Sat, 30 Aug 1997 16:08:44 -0400 (EDT) Received: from mail1.doit.wisc.edu (mail1.doit.wisc.edu [144.92.9.40]) by amani.c es.ncsu.edu (8.8.5/RK-970619.0) with ESMTP id QAA01931 for ; Sat, 30 Aug 1997 16:08:43 -0400 (EDT) Received: from di-sys-g by mail1.doit.wisc.edu; id PAA620816; 8.8.6/50; Sat, 30 Aug 1997 15:08:45 -0500 Message-Id: <199708302008.PAA620816@mail1.doit.wisc.edu> X-Sender: jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 2.1.2 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Sat, 30 Aug 1997 14:26:16 -0500 To: sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu From: "John A. Hendrickson" Subject: Help: rashes caused by handling produce The produce manager at a food cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin is desperately trying to find out why she and many of her staff have been suffering from serious rashes on their hands and arms over the past few years or more. They believe they've narrowed it down to their handling of either watermelons or celery that is not certified organic (i.e., "commercial"). They're concerned about long-term effects; some are already left with scars from the rash. Does anyone out there have any information on this? Is this common in produce retail? I'll forward her your replies, thankyou. -John John Hendrickson Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems University of Wisconsin-Madison 1450 Linden Drive, Room 146 Madison, WI 53706 jhendric@facstaff.wisc.edu (608) 265-3704 FAX (608) 265-3020 http://www.wisc.edu/cias