Sage advice, Ray. That's why I *always* wear gloves, and change them often.
I wish I could convince Frank to do the same.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
news:R4NUj.369$be.256@trndny02...
If you want to look at details, ALL media components are a risk, to some
extent.

Perlite is almost 100% silica, which can cause silicosis. Same is true of
diatomite.

Be smart in how you handle it and all will be well.

I worked with uranium- and thorium oxides in college, both toxic as hell,
but I'm still here to talk about it - because I took relevant and
appropriate precautions. Hell, trichosporosis - a fungal infection from
sphagnum - is a bigger threat.

(And no, my recent "episode" with melanoma was not related to any of the
above)
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"unknown" wrote in message
...
i remembered that either vermiculite or perlite was a problem, but i
couldn't remember which.

are there problems with perlite?

oh, and potting soil can give you legionnaire's disease.

--j_a



In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote:

Well, that's not particularly good news, now is it? Vermiculite is in
most
potting mixes for those *other* plants. Wonder if it's in some of the
commercially mixed orchid stuff?

For my part, I mix my own orchid media, so it's not an issue unless
we're
working on other potted plants, which is not common.

Diana