Potting mix can contain the bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease.
NSW Health has issued a warning to gardeners across the State to take care handling potting mix which can contain seriously dangerous bacteria.
Legionella longbeachae bacteria is often present in potting mix and can cause the lung infection Legionnaires’ disease if someone inhales dust from contaminated soil.
Executive Director for Health Protection at NSW Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty said gardeners can protect themselves by donning a special P2 mask and gardening gloves, while handling potting mix.
“Wetting the potting mix first also helps prevent any contaminated potting mix dust blowing up into the air and being inhaled,” Dr McAnulty said.
“Even if you’ve been wearing gloves, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap before eating, drinking or smoking as the bacteria could still be there,” he said.
“Taking these precautions means you can enjoy gardening knowing you’re safe.”
He said symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease included fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite and diarrhoea.
There were 81 cases of Legionnaires’ disease from the type of bacteria that can be found in potting mix and soils in NSW last year.
A more common source of Legionnaires’ disease is due to a different strain of bacteria, usually found in contaminated air conditioning cooling systems on large buildings.
Dr McAnulty said as some cooling systems are switched on and off in autumn, building operators needed to be especially vigilant to maintain them well and clean them to stop Legionella pneumophila bacteria building up.
“The pools of water in cooling systems are often at just the right temperature for these bacteria to thrive,” he said.
“Then when a contaminated cooling system is turned back on and off again, the bugs get a jolt and could be released into in the air via water droplets,” Dr McAnulty said.
