Laurel – Love the smell, but is it really bad for you?

[PeteB]

I met some National Trust boys years ago that all got blinding headaches and nausea when chipping the stuff using a top loading gravity chipper! They were told to get contractors in to finish the job as Laurel was from a group of plants that gave off cyanide fumes.

[Mesterh]

I met some National Trust boys years ago that all got blinding headaches and nausea when chipping the stuff using a top loading gravity chipper! They were told to get contractors in to finish the job as Laurel was from a group of plants that gave off cyanide fumes.

 

LOl sry but that bit made me laugh:lol:

 

Let someone else kick the bucket!

[John Hancock]

LOl sry but that bit made me laugh:lol:

 

Let someone else kick the bucket!

 

Haha, serves them right for flush-cutting all the highway trees – let ‘em all die, kill ‘em all with Laurel!

[Bretonboy]

Am I right in thinking that Yew also gives of cyinide fumes when chipped or burnt???

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Am I right in thinking that Yew also gives of cyinide fumes when chipped or burnt???

 

good question, they are toxic but dont know if its due to trace cyanide?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

besides I thought it was arsenic that smelt like almonds?

[czhey]

Think its cyanide (almond smell) in laurel, and arsenic in yew. not sure though

[Alinicoll]

BBC - h2g2 - Classic Poisons

 

Interesting poison link just incase

[Jamie]

I love the smell of laurel.

 

Isn't Cinnamon a laurel? Cinnamon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Jamie

[Tom D]

I think I am right in saying that Cyanide burns producing CO2 water and N2. So burning could well be better than chipping.

Personally I love the smell and always have a good sniff of the chip box. Like bakewell tart, MMMM:001_smile: