On Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:36:52 -0500, krw wrote:

What I do, by the way, after a severe exposure, is, instead of buying
the expensive IvyBlock/Technu/Zanfel/Prednisole regimen, is
http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/...g/11917988.jpg

Yes, which is why I never play with poison ivy.

I don't mind battling poisonous plants any more than I mind winding
torsion springs, but, I do try to know thine enemy thoroughly, and one
problem I have in spades is decontamination of something invisible, yet
toxic.

To that end, I was just made aware of the most fantastic reliable
reference on the net for battling toxic Pacific Poison Oak in the field!

United States Patent 4,594,239, to Pluim, Jr., on June 10, 1986
Titled: Method for neutralizing offensive chemicals
http://tinyurl.com/ah7myn3

Summary:
Urushiol causes dermatitis by changing the surface proteins in the skin
so the body no longer recognizes the skin as human, and attacks it.

That effect is actually fairly easy to interfere with. Pretty much any
change to the urushiol molecule would probably prevent dermatitis.

Chlorine bleach is a strong oxidizing agent, and should easily do the
trick. Getting it into the oil would be aided by adding alcohol or
acetone as a wetting agent, but a strong surfactant should also work.

The patent prefers a solution of acetone + butyl acetate +
trichloroisocyanuric acid for neutralizing urushiol on skin, clothes, and
equipment; but if I preferentially select just the common household
chemicals discussed, the patent seems says that 2% to 6% common bleach
alone or combined with 5% to 20% rubbing alcohol (or acetone) as a
wetting agent will neutralize urushiol in about 1 minute.

The patent even explains how adding certain ferrous compounds will
actually make the toxic urushiol glow green, while the decontaminated
urushiol will not.

Armed with this information, I can create a decontamination mix out of
the prescribed pool chemicals and rubbing alcohol, which I can use to
wash my face, hands, neck, ears, and wrists every 15 minutes, while
removing the poison oak in the field!