---
title: "PSA I was just scrolling YouTube when I came across a video from A…"
description: "PSA I was just scrolling YouTube when I came across a video from A Current Affair Australia about potting mix almost killing an elderly man. What he had…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/sxUPVHc233toM7z8VXQ1MC"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Mr Variegated"
published: "2026-08-31T15:10:54.395535Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/everythingHousePlants.jpg"
---

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# PSA I was just scrolling YouTube when I came across a video from A…

_Posted by Mr Variegated on 2026-08-31_

PSA  
I was just scrolling YouTube when I came across a video from A Current Affair Australia about potting mix almost killing an elderly man. What he had breathed from the potting mix almost killed him.  
For many years when starting we never wore a mask when dealing with perlite. Under a microscope perlite looks like shards of glass. I recommend never opening a bag of it inside, go outside for a second and dump your perlite in your mix.  
As a safety I guess we should always wear a mask when mixing soil.

## 4 comments

### Emmyyy commented on 2026-08-31

If you’re gentle when dealing with it and not just throwing it in your mix you can do it in doors.

I personally dump all mine in a box put the lid on a shake and mix it that way.

If you’re doing just a mix for one or two plants give it a little mist before mixing it it’ll settle the dust

#### Mr Variegated replied on 2026-08-31

Ahh misting it is a great idea. That’ll keep the dust from flying around.

#### Emmyyy replied on 2026-08-31

I’ve not tried it myself but the people I follow on instagram do and they seem to know their stuff 😂

### Virginia commented on 2026-08-31

Same for DTE. Don’t breathe the dust. It is a lung irritant.

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