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Family Ties Forever! · 06-16-2015, 03:48 AM

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How Much Bacteria Is On Money In Your Pocket?
Author: Andy Cerota, Anchor/Reporter
Posted: Jun 15, 2015 11:02 PM CDT Updated: Jun 15, 2015 11:59 PM CDT

Before we give you the dirty details you should know: Most bacteria are harmless. Many of them are actually helpful, right? "We carry lots of bacteria on our bodies that are helping us with things," said biologist Rebecca Ferrell, Ph.D. But perhaps, not these bacteria -- colonies of filth that KPRC 2 News found on money. Ferrell and some of her students agreed to take a close look at money collected from fast food restaurants, banks, ATMs and grocery stores, including both bills and a big bag of change.

"So if you see E. coli there, it's not the E. coli you should be worried about -- it's an indicator for something else that might be there," said Emily Pryor, a student clinician. "It says you've got feces-- you've got fecal contamination-- and that could transmit all kinds of disease," Ferrell said. Disease that is moving through the money supply as it rides in your pocket, your wallet and your purse. We just don’t really think about it.

"There are always the potential for the pathogens to be there as well and that was the concern with money," Ferrell said. Whole families of serious bacteria. "It's the usual suspects right? Salmonella, shigella, typhoid, clostridium -- and then there are lots of viruses," Ferrell said. And E coli can be very resilient. Pryor found it alive in the lab for almost an entire week. "And this day six. Still growing? Still growing," Ferrell said.

Which means your chances of eventually touching the bill with the right or wrong bacteria are pretty good. Washing your hands after touching cash or coins is the best way to protect yourself, especially before you eat or handle food.

Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

ponytail · 06-16-2015, 06:07 AM

For years have had washed my hands after touching money or anything really.

Tubehead · 06-17-2015, 11:09 PM

I watched this special on myth buster they did a test on the more germs one was the dish sponge and third was the key board then the remote

Mace Dolex · 06-18-2015, 01:06 PM

I work at a bank handling filthy money everyday so I always wash my hands thoroughly before I eat.

Furienna · 06-25-2015, 08:23 PM

My sister and her husband are practically germophobes! This seems to just confirm all their worries...

06-16-2015, 03:48 AM	#1
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	How Much Bacteria Is On Money In Your Pocket? link How Much Bacteria Is On Money In Your Pocket? Author: Andy Cerota, Anchor/Reporter Posted: Jun 15, 2015 11:02 PM CDT Updated: Jun 15, 2015 11:59 PM CDT Before we give you the dirty details you should know: Most bacteria are harmless. Many of them are actually helpful, right? "We carry lots of bacteria on our bodies that are helping us with things," said biologist Rebecca Ferrell, Ph.D. But perhaps, not these bacteria -- colonies of filth that KPRC 2 News found on money. Ferrell and some of her students agreed to take a close look at money collected from fast food restaurants, banks, ATMs and grocery stores, including both bills and a big bag of change. "So if you see E. coli there, it's not the E. coli you should be worried about -- it's an indicator for something else that might be there," said Emily Pryor, a student clinician. "It says you've got feces-- you've got fecal contamination-- and that could transmit all kinds of disease," Ferrell said. Disease that is moving through the money supply as it rides in your pocket, your wallet and your purse. We just don’t really think about it. "There are always the potential for the pathogens to be there as well and that was the concern with money," Ferrell said. Whole families of serious bacteria. "It's the usual suspects right? Salmonella, shigella, typhoid, clostridium -- and then there are lots of viruses," Ferrell said. And E coli can be very resilient. Pryor found it alive in the lab for almost an entire week. "And this day six. Still growing? Still growing," Ferrell said. Which means your chances of eventually touching the bill with the right or wrong bacteria are pretty good. Washing your hands after touching cash or coins is the best way to protect yourself, especially before you eat or handle food. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
	__________________ Jenny

06-17-2015, 11:09 PM	#3
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	germs I watched this special on myth buster they did a test on the more germs one was the dish sponge and third was the key board then the remote

06-16-2015, 06:07 AM	#2
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	For years have had washed my hands after touching money or anything really.

06-18-2015, 01:06 PM	#4
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,668	I work at a bank handling filthy money everyday so I always wash my hands thoroughly before I eat.

06-25-2015, 08:23 PM	#5
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	My sister and her husband are practically germophobes! This seems to just confirm all their worries...