Handle with care
Handling potting mix and compost carries a slight risk of legionnaires’ disease (which can be fatal).
You get the disease by breathing in contaminated dust or droplets. Common early symptoms include a sudden high temperature, loss of appetite, chills, muscle pains, headache, stomach pains and diarrhoea. A dry cough may develop into pneumonia.
To avoid catching legionnaires’ disease you should:
- Always wear gloves.
- Take care when opening bags of mix and avoid inhaling dust.
- Moisten the mix before use.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after using potting mix.
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