On 22 Jan 04 at 21:25, Jane McGary wrote: > Unlike Roy Sachs, I have no experience with Alstroemeria reactions, > but I don't get poison oak either! However, I do wear latex gloves > when handling a lot of Colchicum foliage or bulbs, since these are > known to be very toxic. Narcissus sap causes a skin reaction in some > people, I believe. > > One plant that has caused me problems is Helleborus -- I got > dermatitis from cleaning a lot of seed one year and now wear latex > gloves for the purpose. I suggest you wear gloves made of synthetic nitrile rubber instead of natural latex. Nitrile rubber gloves can be purchased at nearly any auto parts outlet. A box of 100 will last a long time. Reason: protracted exposure to natural latex can cause sensitivity to develop. Many medical and dental personnel have developed such a sensitivity as a result of wearing natural latex gloves in the course of their work. Nitrile rubber is also oil proof and may offer a more effective barrier to the irritating compounds found in some bulbs than does natural latex. -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island