A recent study has shown that coins can be held responsible for 20% of diseases caused to the human body.
The scent of money is the driving force for many in life, but do we know that the currency, in physical form is pegged to be the reason for upto 20% of diseases caused to the human body?
A recent study titled Mycoflora associated with different coins and effects of temperature on their growth and survival concluded by the Botany department of Maharaja Sayajirao University found that coins can be extremely dangerous leading to skin diseases as they are handled by people with varying hygiene standards.
Head of Botany department Dr Arun Arya said, "Coins contain certain elements which are harmful for the human body as well as plants. The harmful elements can lead to skin diseases, allergies, lung cancer etc. In fact, these attractive looking coins can be held responsible for 20% of the diseases caused to the human body."
Dr Arya and his students studied more than 200 coins for this research, under which they took ancient Indian coins of British period, coins currently in circulation and also coins obtained from foreign countries. "Since the coins are in circulation in the market, it is handled by people of varying health and hygiene standards and also stored under varying environmental and personal hygienic conditions. Hence, the pathogens being present on the money due to multiple handling cannot be underestimated or ignored," stated Dr Arya.
In the present study, all the coins analysed were found to be contaminated with microbes. Dr Arya further stated that after the coins were kept in incubation for 15 days in separate plates, it was found that majority of the coins contained fungi Alternaria Alternata and Rhizopus Stolonifer while the rest contained bacteria. The coins were put in separate Petri plates containing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium.
So then, why are these organisms not visible and seem harmless to the human body? Answering this, Dr Arya said, "The microbes are present on coins but are inactive or resting, which does not mean they are not harmful. On some coins they multiply soon while on some they multiply in later stages. But they can be a problem for the human skin."
Interestingly, when the coins brought from abroad were tested the same type of fungi was found. The study said that coins which were in circulation as well as in collections are contaminated with potential pathogens and the users and handlers of the coins may be the potential source of contamination.
Suggesting some measures to avoid skin diseases or fungal infections, Dr Arya said that the coins should be regularly sterlised in boiling water. Also, paper money is an important carrier of bacteria due to which regular disinfection should be carried out by banks by exposing it to UV rays to kill the microbes. "Apart from reducing currency contamination, public education should be given on proper care and handling of currency like washing hands with disinfectants after shopping," added Dr Arya
The research on currency contamination was one of the parts of the bigger projects of Dr Arya. Sharing more information, he said, "All those objects which touch our skin/body are harmful to our skin if not sterilized. But there are many things which are in contact with our body and yet we don't realize about its harmful contents. Some elements like watch, rings which we wear daily and, some old jewellery etc may also contain harmful elements. The study is on about the same and it will take a year for it to be completed."
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