A British study indicated that certain strains of aspergillosis are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment. Gardening in particular increases the risk of contracting this lung infection.
- Each year, nine million deaths are due to air, water and soil pollution, according to researchers at the University Medical Center in Mainz (Germany).
- Gardening exposes you to the risk of lung diseases caused by bacteria and fungi present in the soil.
In April 2022, British health authorities warned about aspergillosis, a rare lung disease, which is caused by inhaling tiny mold particles. Landscapers or people who garden regularly are most likely to develop this disease.
Bacteria increasingly resistant to drugs
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiologyresearchers from Imperial College London (UK) reported that infections with the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are increasingly resistant to antifungals.
To reach this conclusion, the scientists analyzed 218 samples infected with theAspergillus fumigatus. They also specified that seven out of ten samples came from people infected with aspergillosis. According to their results, six people were infected with a drug-resistant strain.
Other lung diseases can also be caught while gardening. This is particularly the case with legionellosis, a serious lung infection caused by the bacterium Legionella. This germ is particularly present in objects containing stagnant water such as watering cans or rainwater collectors.
Bioaerosols are present in the compost
Compost is the result of a process of transformation of organic waste by micro-organisms and small animals. This product is comparable to potting soil. It is necessary to turn it regularly in order to mix the materials and to accelerate the process of decomposition of the waste. But this gesture is not without health risks, according to researchers from Imperial College London.
“You are more likely to breathe in bioaerosols from the compost when you turn it over. These are airborne microorganisms including spores, bacteria and fungi”, they indicated. People with chronic asthma or allergies are at higher risk of developing lung infections after exposure to bioaerosols.
