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#1
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POTTING MIX
Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special
precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman |
#2
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"Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman What?? Where did you hear that? It's completely harmless. Maybe don a deep diving suit just in case? barb |
#3
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Gee Freebird, you need to read the papers a bit more and watch just a bit of
telly, eh? "freebird" wrote in message ... "Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman What?? Where did you hear that? It's completely harmless. Maybe don a deep diving suit just in case? barb |
#4
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g'day norman,
apparently some many years ago a person i think in qld became ill and i think it was fatal the cause given was a leggionaires type illness that they blamed on the potting mix the person had used some time prior to the illness occuring. so now they have a warning posted on all bags of potting mix. i don't know whether the potting mix caused any problems or something else may have and i can't say to ignore the safety message, but i have used 100's of bags of potting mix and dozens of trailer loads of it as well and to date i have never gotten ill, and i don't wear masks or gloves or space suits or anything toward that end. also i think they add treated human sewage solids in mixes nowadays that's just my perseption. so if in doubt glove up, don the face mask and long trousers and sleeves and get on with the potting hey? len snipped -- happy gardening 'it works for me it could work for you,' "in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gardenlen1/ my e/mail addies have spam filters you should know what to delete before you send. |
#5
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"Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman you might like to read this: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/healthv/...98/974_41.html or this: http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/toolbox...ix_danger.html |
#6
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"blank" wrote in message ... "Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman you might like to read this: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/healthv/...98/974_41.html or this: http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/toolbox...ix_danger.html Sorry, I forgot to add that at work our weekly 14 cubic metres of potting mix has, to our knowledge, never harmed anyone in thirty years. But it is a sand and bark mix with a bit of extra dolomite added to keep the pH up. |
#7
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Wow, this is mind blowing stuff.
Could all this be related to the initial case where they blamed the potting mix for someones death? Is there any scientific evidence or research to support such claims? I'd be interested to see that also. It's not such a problem now I'm 28 and healthy. But as I get older, I may have to stay away from my compost bin, worm farm, and potting mix bags. Take up another hobby basically "blank" wrote in message ... "Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman you might like to read this: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/healthv/...98/974_41.html or this: http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/toolbox...se/thymes/soil _mix_danger.html |
#8
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g'day itrox,
dunno mate from what i read on the sites and elsewhere they aren't exactly 100% sure that it was the potting mix, it could have been compost or garden soil and as we don't know how far their research went into the unfortunate instances they could have picked the bug up from anyplace with air conditioning, or could these folk have been more susceptable to any sort of infection due to other reasons???? anyway those who have the power say take precautions. len snipped -- happy gardening 'it works for me it could work for you,' "in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gardenlen1/ my e/mail addies have spam filters you should know what to delete before you send. |
#9
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Blank thanks for advising those on here.
The tip with the hose is "THE" tip as well as common sense such as hand washing etc. For Some reason A Death in DaptoNSW relates to chook poo and mushroom compost is still ringing Large bells from the early 80's. I have sent away for fuller particulars . Of course worm farms and castings may be a fail safe potting mix But my advice is if feeling a bit crook after any gardening or possible exposure to chemicals sprays or after any pest contractor visits. Get your self the a vet quick smart better safe than sorry . We had a case where we live where an old gent was spraying and then lit up a smoke before washing hands and he went leg up soon after - inhaled the chemical and was lucky to make it . "blank" wrote in message ... "Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Thanks. Norman you might like to read this: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/healthv/...98/974_41.html or this: http://www.westone.wa.gov.au/toolbox...ix_danger.html |
#10
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"Norman" wrote in message ... Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Apparently it can cause an illness by inhaling the dust (harmful bacteria) or contact with lesions/cuts in the skin (I guess tetnaus, sp?, would be one? I have handled plenty of it no troubles, not to mention working in dirt/soil 5 days a week. Having said that I guess they have tested potting mixes, found something possibly dangerous to humans, hence put the warning up just to be safe. One day I might wear gloves, never a mask, but I do tyr to avoid inhaling the dust at any time. I know my mums cousin has got something (forget the name, possibly staff?) from chook poo. Then he is or was a contractor for spreading chook poo on playing fields/golf courses. Cheers Andrew Thanks. Norman |
#11
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g'day andrew,
just wonder about some of their careful careful stuff nowadays they are taking the responsibility of common sense away from users, and at the end of the day you would probably have a better chance of winning lotto than dying from gardening or working with plants, me i dun' picks me nose 'till i washes me hands huh chuckle. len snipped -- happy gardening 'it works for me it could work for you,' "in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do" but consider others and the environment http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gardenlen1/ my e/mail addies have spam filters you should know what to delete before you send. |
#12
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In article ,
"Norman" wrote: Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. Legionnaire's disease. Just don't stick your head in the bag and inhale the aroma (even though potting mix smells nice). Keep it damp -- which your seedlings will prefer anyway -- and handle it in a well-ventilated area. Wash your hands. While we're on the topic of soil-borne disease, make sure you've had a tetanus jab in the last ten years. If you do get any deep cuts or puncture wounds while gardening, and it has been longer than 5 years since your last jab, you will need to get another injection asap. -- Chookie -- Sydney, Australia (Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply) "Life is like a cigarette -- smoke it to the butt." -- Harvie Krumpet |
#13
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In article , "Norman"
wrote: Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. The mix can contain Legionallea bacteria. These can cause Legionnaires disease, a rare form of pneumonia - which can also be caused through poorly maintained airconditioning systems (not to mention hot springs and spas, apparently). General advice is that you should keep the mix damp to avoid breathing in dust, wear gloves and keep contaminated hands away from your mouth. Note that this is more important if you smoke, are over 50, have a respiratory illness or deficiency or a low immune system. See: http://www.betterhealthchannel.com.a...s_disease?open -- Andy D. |
#14
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In article , "Norman"
wrote: Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Well, to the couple of people who each year die from inhaling bacteria in the mix and succumbing to the infection, it has proved fatal! -- John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup) |
#15
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G'dayAndrew , I understand the problem is more to do with the packaging than the mix itself. Usually the stuff is sterilised just before packing, but does get exposed to airborne beasties while its cooling and sitting in the hoppers of the packaging machine. Then they seal it up all airtight like a little incubator and leave it hanging around the warehouse for god knows how long. As the mix has only been exposed to a limited number of bugs, often one type rapidly dominates, all the time being warmed by the continued break down of the mix. So buy your mix in advance and pour it out and expose it to the elements for a while, and it soon reaches a safe balance of microbes, just like garden soils. Open the bags in a well ventilated spot and don't shove your head into the bag. I find this also stabilises the moisture content which seems to vary from batch to batch. China Wingham NSW "Andrew D" wrote in message ... In article , "Norman" wrote: Can anyone tell me how dangerous potting mix is and are there any special precautions needed. Something to do with spores and breathing in the stuff. The mix can contain Legionallea bacteria. These can cause Legionnaires disease, a rare form of pneumonia - which can also be caused through poorly maintained airconditioning systems (not to mention hot springs and spas, apparently). General advice is that you should keep the mix damp to avoid breathing in dust, wear gloves and keep contaminated hands away from your mouth. Note that this is more important if you smoke, are over 50, have a respiratory illness or deficiency or a low immune system. See: http://www.betterhealthchannel.com.a...ges/Legionnair es_disease?open -- Andy D. |
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