THE DANGERS inherent in potting mix and compost have been highlighted again with the story of a Wellington man in the ICU.
The fit 56-year-old has contracted legionellosis after using a bag of garden potting mix, and faces losing his fingers to the disease. He has had pneumonia twice, liver and kidney failure, and had to be put into an induced coma. He may not live.
It's a story that's been told before but doesn't seem to get a great deal of traction. Legionella micro-organisms occur naturally and are widespread in the environment. There is no known way of preventing them multiplying in composted bark, sawdust, plant and vegetable materials, or other finished potting mixes and garden soils.
They spread by hand to mouth or breathing in fine particles, and legionellosis has a death rate of around 15 per cent.
There's a simple solution to the retailers' responsibility in this - put a mask in every packet of compost or potting mix, or staple one to the outside as more of a reminder. Go round a garden centre or store and it's not often you see the sellers of potting mix and compost imploring customers to make the connection. A skull and crossbones might not be the best image, but a more obvious danger warning could help save a life. Gardeners can also help themselves by wearing a mask and gloves, keeping the mix damp while in use, keep as far away as practical to avoid inhaling the mix and washing hands thoroughly afterwards.
