Sick of money, is that right?

Lurking on money actually pathogens?
That children should not put money in their mouth, children learn very early. Finally, on the currency lurking harmful germs. Is that really true: Can dealing with money make us ill??

Money is supposed to make us sick
An old saying goes: "Money spoils the character." In fact, scientists have found that people with more money show less compassion. Researchers around Michael Kraus of the University of California in San Francisco reported on their study, according to which people who belong financially to the upper class, pay less attention to their fellow human beings.

The means of payment should not only be bad for the character, but also make you sick. So many probably know the warning from their childhood: "sitting on money pathogens." An expert knows if that's really true.

If you often have money in your hands, you should wash your hands regularly. Because especially on bills, numerous pathogens cavort. (Image: Bits and Splits / fotolia.com)

Germs on bills
The director of the Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Prof. Petra Gastmeier, said in a message from the news agency dpa that this is already true in principle. Various studies from many countries have shown that bacteria and fungi can be found on money.

One such investigation was the so-called "Dirty Money Project" by scientists at New York University (NYU). They reported that they have discovered on bills a surprising number of microbes that could be potential disease triggers. The means of payment is also "a means of exchange for hundreds of different types of bacteria", which are passed on with the banknotes from hand to hand.

Coins are partially slightly antibacterial
According to Gastmeier, these are mainly microorganisms that colonize the skin anyway and which usually do not cause any diseases. In countries such as India, however, were also multi-resistant pathogens been found.

"The organisms are more on bills than on coins," said Gastmeier. According to the expert coins are about a brass or copper alloy slightly antibacterial. However, this is different with the cotton-based material that bills are made of. Therefore, the motto is: "If you had a lot to do with money, you should wash your hands." Especially before eating and preparing food. (Ad)