Death of Two New York Men Linked to Bat Guano Fertilizer
Two men from New York died after contracting fungal infection from working with bat guano, a known fertilizer in cannabis growing. The men developed pneumonia from the bat poop mixture after they used the supplement to feed plants during growing, according to a recent study that examined both cases. The deaths of the two men were not connected, the report shows.
Two unnamed men from Rochester, NY, aged 59 and 64, smoked and worked with weed plants that had been contaminated with a fungus found in the guano bat nutrient they used. This resulted in lethal lung infections, according to a recent study published in Open Forum Infectious Disease.
Bat Guano Is a Known Fertilizer for Growing Marijuana
As a supplement for growing cannabis, bat guano can provide plants with various nutrients as well as it can act as a pH-neutralizer and protect plants from fungi. During the flowering stage, it contributes to creating a strong terpene profile. A natural “superfood,” bat guano has a long tradition in cannabis cultivation, and with the industry boom it’s now widely available to purchase also online.
One of the recent tragic cases raises the question about safety of organic nutrient products sold on the internet. The 59-year-old had reportedly supplied a pack of bat guano from an online store. In the other case, the 64-year-old had harvested a thick layer of guano in his attic, which was swarmed by bats. Both men used the bat excrement to fertilize plants.
According to the study, the guano contained a potentially fatal fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum, which is prevalent in the eastern half of the United States and is usually transmitted by breathing in fungal spores. Illness can happen through mouth ingestion as well. The fungus can then cause a serious lung infection, which causes breathing difficulties.
“Histoplasma capsulatum is a pathogenic dimorphic fungus with evolving epidemiology. Initially described as endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys, the infection now regularly occurs in central and eastern United States, with cases reported across the entire country,” the study authors wrote.
Fatal cases related to individual exposures for the first time now outnumber work-related outbreak cases, the researchers remarked. They also took note of the growing trend of using bat guano in cannabis cultivation.
“Given the recent legalization and an expected increase in home cultivation of cannabis, along with the promotion of bat guano for this purpose, it is important to raise public awareness about the potential risk of using bat guano as fertilizer and emphasize the need for protective measures, such as wearing masks when handling it,” researchers wrote.
Histoplasmosis is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late, while symptoms start to present between three and 17 days after breathing in the fungus from the environment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can include fever, cough, fatigue, difficulty breathing, headache, chest pain, body pains, etc. Infection can also lead to meningitis. “Early testing and antifungal treatment helps prevent severe infections,” notes the CDC.
Individuals with Other Medical Conditions More Likely to Get Serious Fungal Infection
People who have other medical conditions are more likely to experience severe forms of Histoplasmosis. The 59-year-old patient has been described in the study as having arthritis and being a heavy tobacco user with emphysema. He was hospitalized after six weeks of struggling with breathing problems, a sore throat and weight loss, and appeared to be septic at the time of hospital admission.
At first, doctors thought that the small lumps layering his throat and vocal cords might be cancer, but analysis showed it’s from the fungus. The patient died two weeks later, after antifungal medications failed to help him recover.
In the case of the 64-year-old man, study authors wrote that he was a smoker with severe peripheral arterial disease and previous bypass surgery. The fungal infection caused him to suffer from lesions in the chest and pancreas. He was treated for several months, but he ultimately succumbed to complications related to bowel ischemia.
“These cases also highlight that growing cannabis can be a relevant part of a patient’s history as a risk factor for histoplasmosis,” the study concludes. However, at the highest risk of contracting disease are “immunocompromised individuals.”
Lastly, these two tragic cases linked to bat guano fertilizer use also show that it’s important to take products from trusted brands and sources, and always to maintain a clean working environment when homegrowing plants. If you suspect any health problems while working with cannabis, do not hesitate to reach out to your primary care physician.
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Stephen Andrews
