Lessons; environment

Allergy

This page contains following subjects:

Allergy for plants and flowers
Pollen allergy
Latex allergy
Contact allergy
What can you do

Allergy for plants and flowers

An allergy can appear very sudden, it can be the result of having contact with a substance for many years. Because our body white blood cells as reaction unnecessary creates antibodies there will be irritation. Allergy kan appear direct (direct allergy), but it also can appear later (late allergy). Many hours or even a day later is not abnormal. This often appear by an allergy of the mucous membrane or by the skin.
Allergy can be very light and often only in a part of the year. Sometimes it is very serious and it can force you to find another profession.
Allergy of the mucous membrane, the bronchial tubes, eyes and nose, exist because of pollen, dust in the house, dust of dried flowers or flower foam, smoke, spray cans and so on. It often is called hay fever. The result is sneezing, watering eyes, a running nose, headache. Eventually it can reach the longs or inflammate the eyes. In serious cases a secondary infection can take place such as a sinusitis. Drying out of the bronchial tubes and mucous membrance of the throat can cause further damage.
Allergy of the skin often is very unpleasant and shows us eczema, chapped hands and itch. It usually exist via direct contact with an allergen. The result can be serious and sometimes urge one to look for another profession.

Pollen allergy
Working with ripe flowers is a problem because of the pollen. It is not necessary to be allergic to all kind of pollen. Working in a cold area or with a higher humidity limited the amount of pollen and thus the allergic reaction.
A few well known species are: Achillea, Ammi majus, Anethum, Dendranthema, dried flowers, Helianthus (sun flower), Solidago, Solidaster, grasses, all wind pollination in the spring time such as Alnus and Pinus,

Contact allergy
When you touch a plant, the sap of the plant and so on can cause quickly an allergy such as  eczema. Many contact eczema exist because of conifers, Alstroemeria, Eucalyptus leaf, sap of Euphorbia, chrysanthemum and their family like Tanacetum, Lilium, Narcissus, Primula obconica, Rosa, Streptocarpus, Tulipa, Helianthus (sunflower) hairy plants, Eucalyptus leave, Philodendron, Dieffenbachia, Poinsettia, Ficus, Magnolia. Well known also is daffodil rash, tulip fingers and hyacinth itch, this often is seen is by the bulb flower growers.
Poisoning sap or a defense mechanism of the plants can cause often serious problems, It is not always an allergy, but just the poison what can harm us. Examples are: Euphorbia polychroma and other Euphorbia's, Heracleum mategazzianum can cause serious blisters if you touch this plant in the sun. Also Rhus radicans is very dangerous. Problems can happen also by Rhus fenicifuna.
Pesticide, herbicide and fungicides or residu also can cause an allergic reaction. On many flowers and leaves, especially from countries where there is not like in Holland the MPS certification, there is often much residue. This problem becomes less important because more diseases are treated  on a biological way.
If you create sometimes your own polyester containers, you have to be careful. This also can give an allergic reaction. Often the epoxy is the bad one.
To work with spray cans is not very healthy. To inhale the gasses and substance can be harmful. Prevent yourself, your skin and do not inhale paint or poison. Intensively working with glue even can cause sometimes brain damage. Put an extractor in your design room.

Latex allergy
A small part of people is allergic for Latex. We do not mean Latex paint, but Latex from the rubber tree Ficus (benjamina and other species) as wel plants from this family such as Hevea brasiliensis, this is a wolfs milk plant. Latex is to find in rubber band, in balloons, rubber handkerchieves, in masks used for spray poison, in tape. To breath the white powder (Zea mais) what we can fin on latex handkerchieves can be dangerous. latex is also part of Mango, Ficus carica, banana, melon, avocado, kiwi, peach, papaja, passivrucht, nectarine, horse walnut, walnut, peanuts, tomato, potato.

What can you do?
Wash frequently your hands to take of the allergen. Do not wash with soap. Dry hands, a high temperature and a low humidity are harmful and can increase eczema. To grease the hands can help. Wear eventually gloves while cleaning flowers or cleaning buckets. But this is not the ideal solution and not practical. Cotton gloves you can use only in case of dry work. Gloves made of nitrilrubber or 4Hplastic are a good protection. Do not wear any rings during the work and also no metal arm band or a watch. Use paper throw a way towels. Wear eventually a good dust mask and take care for a good extractor in the design room. Do not use cosmetics based on flowers or plants, they can stimulate allergic reactions. Spray allergic flowers with water so that pollen not can fly around. 

There are medicine against allergy, but they often can be used only for a short period. Some medicine such as Corticoïsteriden are maybe dangerous when you use them a long period and intensively. A long period of desensibilisation sometimes can help. If you know if you or an employee is allergic take care for the best circumstances in the shop and design room. In case a person is allergic for bees, you must have the proper medicine. Ask your doctor, allergologist or dermatologist for advice.
Think on this, each allergy is a separate and personal story. Specific treatment to cure or to prevent is often difficult. The best thing to do is avoid any contact with the allergen. But this is not easy.

Tip. Reed also our page about insects and allergy

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004