Effects of Global Warming on Poison Ivy - Research Paper Example

 Effects of Global warming on Poison Ivy Introduction Global warming is considered to be the reason of many troubles the United States faced during the last years. Besides tornados and volcanoes, a new really unpleasant problem appears: global warming helps poison ivy spread out. This fact was already proved by the scientists after a number of cases of poisoning in places, where the plant was not expected to be met but suddenly appeared due to the proper conditions for its growth. Those people who like summer very much, because of a opportunity to spend much time and have a rest outside, will be unpleasantly surprised or even shocked by feeling sudden pain and having their skin covered with awful blisters ("News Not All Cold Facts on Global Warming.") Is the danger real and how can we protect ourselves? The effect of global warming Poison Ivy flourishes during warm seasons of the year, and hot regions of America always suffered from it a lot. Moreover, the global warming provides it with comfortable conditions to grow and flourish (Lloyd, 2006). This happens due to the increasing level of carbon dioxide. The temperatures become higher and poison ivy receives the opportunity to be found not only on trunks, but much lower in unexpected places. Moreover, in warmer conditions more urushiol is produced. This substance makes effect more dangerous making the poison ivy more poisonous (Broussard, 2009). Famous ecologist Lewis Ziska states that insignificant increase of level of carbon dioxide is able to make Poison Ivy grow very fast. Now the size of a plant is three times bigger than it was in the middle of the 20th century. It is essential to notice that it is much bigger than it was expected to be by this time ("Global Warming Helps Poison Ivy Get Upper Hand."). There was a hope that animals can help by eating some of the leaves, however, according to Lewis, animal’s consumption of plant’s leaves can’t help stop its overgrowth, because the conditions created by the increase of carbon dioxide level are too comfortable for its rapid growth: …..removing some of the leaves, to simulate natural nibbling by deer and rabbits, did nothing to impede growth. Higher CO-2 levels and higher temperatures that make for a longer growing season are "a win-win for poison ivy … but not necessarily for human health. (Manning, 2007). Certainly, there are powerful tools to struggle with poison ivy and some of them could be found in the shops on in the market. They can help annihilate some sprigs of the plant one can suddenly meet in his yard ("Global Warming Helps Poison Ivy Get Upper Hand."). However, those people who live in the country can’t rely on these methods, because they usually meet not just some sprigs but thickets of a poison ivy that can’t be easily removed ("Global Warming Helps Poison Ivy Get Upper Hand.") The real danger of poison ivy The main peculiarity of Poison Ivy that makes it different from other plants is that it is enough just to touch it to become poisoned, while other poisonous plants need consumption. After the contact with the plant human skin becomes poisoned. The effect can be different: sometimes just light rash and in some cases awful blisters, which usually cause a lot of pain and need long treatment (Lloyd, 2006). Every year during the hot season, health care workers received a lot of children who suffered after the unexpected contact with poison ivy. However, according to pediatrician Robin Gehris, the number of cases rapidly increased during last too years: Caused by common poison ivy, it may result from a greater-than-usual exposure to the oil on the leaf surface. Patients end up with a more nasty dermatitis, so for doctors, the black dots "identify that select population of patients that need to be treated more aggressively (Manning, 2007). Some of cases were really serious, therefore, our children playing outside easily become victims of poison ivy that captures new territories due to new comfortable conditions (Manning, 2007). According to Gerald Adams, the expert from DermaTechRxTM, now poison ivy can become a big problem even for people, who did not know about it, because last time it started to be met in places where it newer grew before. Every contact with a plant causes a lot of suffering and never remains traceless. According to Adams, the best way to defend yourself is to get ready beforehand (Lloyd, 2006). Skin protection The growing danger of poison ivy creates the necessity in special investigations held in order to find some ways to prevent awful effects of unexpected contact with the plant. It is very difficult to protect yourself because it is not possible to predict where the plant can be suddenly met ("Global Warming Helps Poison Ivy Get Upper Hand."). The researches from DermaTechRxTM created the only possible way to defend from Poison Ivy. After long investigations they came to the conclusion that the only possible defense against poisonous plant is a defensive barrier. Researchers have already produced and tested a new product that will shortly appear in the drug-stores. The invented product is called AllStop Poison Ivy Healing Gel and is considered to be very effective in struggle with plant’s poison. It should be applied by people who works with plants and like to spend time outside during hot seasons (Broussard, 2009). Conclusion The conclusion can be made that global warming really makes poison ivy grow faster and become bigger. This happens due to the carbon dioxide level increase. After proper investigations researchers proved that even small increase of this level cause rapid growth of a plant. The growth of the plant represents a real danger for people who like to spend their holidays outside and for those who usually work with plants ("News Not All Cold Facts on Global Warming.") It is also dangerous for children who play in the yard. The methods to struggle with plant’s growth have not been invented yet and usual methods used before now can’t be considered to be helpful ("News Not All Cold Facts on Global Warming.") However, there are protection methods which will be available soon. Further research is needed to be held in this direction, because the problem should not remain unsolved for long. Works Cited "Global Warming Helps Poison Ivy Get Upper Hand." Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)27 Oct. 2007: 1.  Lloyd, Jane. "The Link between Environment and Disease." UN Chronicle Mar.-May 2006: 68+.  "News Not All Cold Facts on Global Warming." The Washington Times 17 June 2006: A02. Broussard, Ashley. Is Global Warming Increasing The Growth And Effects Of Poison Ivy? Indus Net Technologies 6 Apr. 2009 Manning, Anita. With Global warning comes a rash of poison Ivy. USA TODAY 24 July 2007 Read More