Horror hogweed injuries warning
PHARMACIST URGING CAUTION OVER‘DANGER PLANT’
APHARMACIST is warning people to be wary of a toxic plant which can leave you with third-degree burns and huge blisters just by coming into contact with it.
Hogweed – dubbed “Britain’s most poisonous plant” – is found across the UK and is most rampant during July and August when temperatures traditionally rise.
Community pharmacist Wojciech Kaniak has now spoken out to warn unsuspecting people about the plant after seeing four cases caused by hogweed injuries in the last month.
The 39-year-old, who works in Llangollen in Denbighshire, said: “I want to raise awareness and make parents, especially, aware of this problem.
“Kids can be attracted to this gorgeous-looking plant with big white umbrella-like flowers.”
Hogweed is an invasive plant whose toxic sap can cause painful burns, scarring and even blindness.
In the UK there are two types of hogweed – common hogweed, the less dangerous of the two, and giant hogweed.
Common hogweed can grow up to 2m in height and is identifiable by its large hollow stem with hair.
In summer months it will also blossom pink and white flowers that will appear in clusters up to 20cm wide.
Common hogweed is often found along hedgerows, roadside verges, wasteground and edges of woods.
While it is less dangerous than its sister plant giant hogweed, it can still cause serious skin irritation and should be avoided.
Giant hogweed, however, can grow up to 5m tall and its dark-green spiked leaves can grow up to 1.5m.
Between June and August, it often blooms white umbrella-like clusters of flowers around 80cm in width.
Giant hogweed is mostly found by rivers and roadsides – and the average giant hogweed can produce a whopping 20,000 seeds that can fall 30ft from the plant and travel even farther through wind or water and remain in the soil for 15 years, according to Mr Kaniak.
Common and giant hogweed both pose a threat to anyone who comes into contact with them. Although the less dangerous of the two, the hairs on the stem of common hogweed can cause serious skin irritation and burns.
The danger of giant hogweed comes from its toxic sap, which is present on all parts of the plant.
The sap contains the toxic chemical furanocoumarins, which causes severe burns, blistering and skin irritation when it’s exposed to UV light from the sun. Even after the painful blisters and burns – which can last for months – heal, the skin of the affected area can remain sensitive to sunlight for up to six years, according to Mr Kaniak.
Mr Kaniak warns: “When hogweed comes into contact with skin, it causes reddening, blisters and severe burns – it can even cause third-degree burns that could require a skin graft. The burns can last several months and remain sensitive to light for up to five or six years.
“If the toxic sap gets into a person’s eye, it can lead to permanent blindness.
“Even breathing in sap particles can lead to respiratory problems.”
If you believe that you have come into contact with a hogweed plant, Mr Kaniak recommends that you immediately wash the affected area with cold water and a mild soap.
Keep the area covered and out of direct sunlight for a minimum of 48 hours, because a toxic reaction can begin in as little as 15 minutes and can continue to develop over 48 hours.
Mr Kaniak said applying a steroid cream can help soothe the affected area, but you should contact a health professional first. He recommends that if you believe sap has got into your eyes, you should rinse them with water and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from light sensitivity, then contact your GP or nearest hospital immediately.