Yukon flood volunteers itching with 'burlap rash'

Many people volunteering for sandbagging efforts on the Yukon's flooded Marsh Lake area are encountering an unusual health hazard: skin irritations causedbythe sandbags.

Volunteers have complained of "burlap rash," or skin irritations particularlyon their arms and hands after handling the burlap bags. Some wonder if the bags, manufactured in Asia,may have been treated with a pesticide, said Dr. Bryce Larke, the Yukon's medical officer of health.

But Larke said that after looking into the case, he found the bags to be free of pesticides.

"Burlap is actually made of jute and hemp fibres, and of course these are vegetable products grown in south Asia and Africa," he told CBC News.

"They contain, of course, small particles of dust from the vegetative fibres. And my recommendation is, if you're at all troubled with sensitive skin, wear a long-sleeved shirt."

Larke said the rash will go away relatively quickly after washing.

Many volunteers were on hand over the weekend at Marsh Lake, which has seen unprecedented flooding asa result of record water levels.

Emergency measures officials in Marsh Lake say they made headway over the weekend, lowering flood waters behind dikes on Army Beach Road. That road had been underwater the past couple of weeks, making it difficult if not impossible for some residents to get to their homes.

Spokesman George Maratos told CBC News that two pumps worked to drain the road. By early Sunday, water there was estimated to have dropped by more than 30 centimetres, he said.

"The hope was that the water levels would start to drop with the pump activated, and that's been the case," Maratos said Sunday.

"That's going to provide better access for vehicles, emergency vehicles if necessary, but more so for property owners who can go into those impacted residences, remove any valuables they need to, but just have access to their homes."

However, Maratos warned that Marsh Lake water levels are expected to rise again, as the result of rain over the weekend.