As if 2024 hasn’t already had enough challenges, Mother Nature has added a new one: A flowering plant that can cause serious burns and alter human DNA is spreading across New York.
It looks like an innocent flower, but it’s so dangerous it can alter human DNA.The Giant Hogweed is one of the most dangerous invasive plants in the US — and it’s all over New York state.The hogweed is packed with sap that causes phytophotodermatitis — meaning it stops the skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays. In extreme cases, exposure can result in third-degree burns and even blindness. And the effects can last months, or even years.Even just brushing against a Hogweed is enough to cause painful pustules and skin damage. And most people who come into contact with the noxious weed, don’t even realize it until it’s too late.
This is no little dandelion or your stealthy poison ivy. The plant can grow over 10 feet, and its white flowers can be more than 2 feet in diameter.
Giant hogweed is a biennial or perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae) which can grow to 14 feet or more. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter and have dark reddish-purple blotches. Its large compound leaves can grow up to 5 feet wide. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter.
Giant Hogweed is native to the Caucasus Mountains, a mountain range at the intersection of Asia, Europe, and Central Asia. The plant may have been introduced to the United States for its seeds, which act as a spice.
Giant hogweed was likely introduced to North America as a garden “curiosity” because of its extremely large size and impressive flower but could have been introduced through spice importation, since its seeds are used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Giant hogweed occurred in North America as early as 1917.
Personally, I am not too sure about eating food containing seeds from a plant that can alter my DNA.
Damage to DNA results from the plant’s toxins interacting with ultraviolet light from the Sun. Heat worsens the effects.
Giant Hogweed sap contains toxins that cause phytophotodermatitis, which means that they heighten the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.The skin’s reaction to Giant Hogweed sap can be intensified by heat and sweat, which means it’s most dangerous during the summer.But the worst damage happens at the microscopic level.When the sap’s toxins get inside skin cells, they can destroy the body’s DNA molecules with help from the sun.As a result, those skin cells die, which is actually what causes the blistering burns.
The first aid associated with Giant Hogweed exposures focuses on keeping the affected area out of light.
- Wash the affected area: Immediately rinse the affected skin with soap and water to remove the sap.
- Seek Shade: Move the affected individual to a shaded area to prevent further exposure to sunlight.
- Do not puncture blisters: If blisters have formed, do not puncture them. Keep the area clean and protect it with a sterile, non-stick dressing.
- Seek Medical Attention: In severe cases of skin reactions or in the presence of eye exposure, seek immediate medical attention.
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