Being stung by a bee, a spider bite or a prickle in your thumb may seem the worst gardening could offer, but sadly this isn’t the case. In light of recent news, Legionnaires Disease contracted from bagged potting mix, is something to take very seriously for weekend gardeners.
There are plenty of health benefits from gardening: fresh air, boosted vitamin D levels, keeping limber and of course fresh, healthy vegetables on the table. But it’s not all hunky-dory.
What is Legionnaires Disease?
Legionnaires is a water-borne or air-borne disease. In basic terms, once inhaling contaminated water and/or soil plays, bacteria plays havoc with the respiratory system, resulting in a potentially fatal illness. It can’t be passed on from person to person.
It is said to thrive in temperatures between 25 and 45 °C (77 and 113 °F), perfect breeding grounds are unfortunately a nicely sealed, warm bag of potting mix or compost.
How to avoid contracting Legionnaires Disease when gardening
The Ministry of Health have advised five basic precautions that should be taken when handling potting mix:
- Open the bag outside
- Use scissors – don’t rip the bag
- Wear gloves and a mask
- Keep the bag contents damp
- Wash your hands afterwards
TV3 News suggests gardeners can reduce their exposure to potting mix dust by wetting down the potting mix prior to working with it, wearing gloves and a face mask and washing their hands afterwards.
“If you have respiratory illness and you are a keen gardener, you should remind your doctor,” says Canterbury District Health Board’s medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey.
Good advice
- To be honest, potting outside is a great idea. If weather doesn’t allow for this, ensure you make it a policy to leave the door up in the garage, or open a few windows in the garden shed at the very least.
- Cutting the potting mix/compost bag open with a pair of scissors is a great idea. Making an X in the middle of a bag is tidy, means less spillage and is ‘controlled’ bag opening.
- Buy a decent pair of gardening gloves. If you are staunch like me and aren’t bothered by grubby fingernails and a bit of dirt, think again – for your own health’s sake.
Take care out there! I am certainly in the market for a good pair of gardening gloves this weekend, that’s for certain.
Take care out there. Rediscover cause and effect.
