Beware of bacteria, fungi lurking in soil.(Home & Garden)

Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), July, 2007

Byline: Becke Davis Illinois Landscape Contractors Association Although working with soil is rarely considered a health risk to gardeners and outdoor workers, some diseases are transmitted through soil. Inhaling diseased spores or becoming exposed to bacterial diseases in the soil by dirt entering a cut or scratch are common methods of infection.

Avoid using raw manure, and when working on dusty or previously uncultivated sites, wet down the soil to reduce dust in the air. Wearing gauntlet-style work gloves, long sleeves, long pants and sturdy shoes can reduce the risk of infection. Diseases that can spread to humans through soil include: - Tetanus. Sometimes called "lockjaw," tetanus, a disease that affects the central nervous system, is caused by a...