[Remy]

I never knew this about parsnips (or carrots and celery) - apparently the shoots and leaves contain a substance which can cause a chemical burn.  Hubby has a veg garden and last Sunday he got sunburned (I know it's hard to believe but he is very pale skinned and it doesn't take much!).  He went to work then said he thought he had an allergic reaction to the sunburn which had caused weals all over his arms and legs.  Then he sent me a message saying it was caused by parsnips  :unsure: , as he had been digging up old ones. 


From Wiki:


[color="#0000FF"]"Dangers


While the root of the parsnip is edible, the handling of its shoots and leaves requires protective clothing. Like many other members of the Apiaceae family, the parsnip contains furanocoumarin, a photosensitive chemical that causes a condition known as phytophotodermatitis.[6] The condition is a type of chemical burn rather than an allergic reaction and should be treated as such. Symptoms include redness, burning, tingling, and blisters (often in the shape of the streak where the plant juices brushed against the body) within 24–48 hours of exposure.[7]
When gardening parsnips, gloves and long sleeves are advised. If bare skin does come into contact with the upper part of a parsnip plant, the area should be washed immediately and kept out of sunlight. A cool, indoor area is best as a retreat, as sweat can aid in the absorption of the toxin, and sunlight activates its deleterious effects. Should a rash appear, the area may be treated similar to a burn and a physician or pharmacist ought to be consulted.[8]
Today, most jurisdictions have wild parsnip on their list of noxious weeds or invasive species for this reason.[9]
Polyacetylenes can be found in Apiaceae vegetables like parsnip where they show cytotoxic activities.[10"[/color]


This is what it did to him:








I don't think the younger leaves affect you otherwise nobody would sell bunches of carrots complete, it must be veg that has been allowed to grow on.  But worth knowing all the same!

[Bionic]

Ouch, that looks painful. Do you get to dig the veggies from now on? 

[little blue]

yes, the chemical reacts in the sunlight,
of course, some people are just more sensitive than others ...

[deepinthewoods]

i had this when strimming some hogweed, it splashed up in my face on that sunny day last year and i had loads of yucky blisters on my face next morning. sore too.

[Fleecewife]

No I didn't know that about parsnips.  I tend to get a rash from strawberry foliage, and I certainly knew  about giant hogweed as my Dad took it into his head to get some years ago, and we then spent ages chopping the wretched stuff down  .
Here is something doing the rounds about a similar thing for animals from Bog Asfodel:
 
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2012/06/04/133236/lamb-deaths-linked-to-poisonous-plant.html