Salinas M L, Ogura T, Soffchi L
Departamento de Química, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Jal, México.
Contact Dermatitis. 2001 Feb;44(2):94-6. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0536.2001.440208.x.
It was found that needle-like calcium oxalate crystals, raphides, are found abundantly in all tissues of Agave tequilana plants; thus, 1 droplet (0.03 ml) of juice pressed from leaves contains 100-150 crystals, 30-500 microm in length, sharpened at both ends. In tequila distilleries, 5/6 of the workers who handle the agave stems have experienced the characteristic irritation. In contrast, only 1/3 of workers in agave plantations who harvest agave plants, complain of the irritation. It is confirmed that all the irritation suffered in both distilleries and plantations takes place at bodily locations where the plants come into contact with the worker's skin in the course of their work.
研究发现，龙舌兰植物的所有组织中都大量存在针状草酸钙晶体，即针晶束；因此，从叶片中榨出的1滴（0.03毫升）汁液含有100 - 150个晶体，长度为30 - 500微米，两端尖锐。在龙舌兰酒酿造厂，处理龙舌兰茎的工人中有5/6经历过这种典型的刺激。相比之下，收获龙舌兰植物的种植园工人中只有1/3抱怨有这种刺激。经证实，酿酒厂和种植园工人所遭受的所有刺激都发生在工作过程中植物与工人皮肤接触的身体部位。
