Re: [CH] Legionnaires' Disease Associated With Potting Soil
George Starkey (r2b9@earthlink.net)
Tue, 05 Sep 2000 22:24:07 -0500
I live in the midwest USA, and heard a NPR local program about the
Legionella bacteria being virtually everywhere that damp, non-sun
exposed soil was. It apparently is nothing new or especially menacing
when in it's natural habitat, but when it is enclosed (building
crawl-spaces, bagged soil, any areas that are damp and enclosed) it can
multiply to dangerous levels. As we make our homes and businesses more
"space-capsule"-like, we will discover more of these problems, I'm
sure. Fresh air (even in Los Angeles) is superior to getting a lungful
of these nasty buggers. Using a breath mask is a sensible precaution
when handling any garden chemicals, and now it seems if you use the
processed soils it is a good idea also.
I love my garden, but I'm not willing to die for it... though, to hear
my mother talk, she thinks I grow my chiles to try and kill myself with
them :^)
George