Quote Originally Posted by Goldfoot View Post
I've never been effected by poison ivy and I'm 95% sure that I've encountered it before. The way you put it sounds right, that a toxin affects everyone and allergens don't, but are you sure that urushiol considered a toxin?
Okay, so when I searched for urushiol on various websites, it was referred to as a toxin. But, when you look up info on poison ivy, it refers to it as an allergen.

Quote Originally Posted by Wikipedia
... a poisonous North American plant that is well known for its production of urushiol, a clear liquid compound found within the sap of the plant that causes an itching rash in most people who touch it... Around 15% to 30% of people have no allergic reaction.
So really, people need to get this toxin/allergen difference sorted out.

And if you have brushed against/touched poison ivy you don't necessarily come into contact with the urushiol because it's in the sap, not always on the leaf surface. I am pretty sure I touched it a few times at summer camp, with no effect.