Abstract

EVALUATION OF HEALTH RISK FROM HANDLING PAKISTANI CURRENCY NOTES AND COINS IN LAHORE

*Musarrat Sharif and Farheen Ansari

Abstract

Paper currency is extensively swapped for goods and services in countries worldwide. It is a actual good route for transmission of diseases and this is why the exchange of paper currency from one individual to another actually spreads microorganisms. If pathogenic bacteria contaminate these moneys, the ratio of infection and demise rate from these infectious means will continue to upswing. The research work aimed at the isolation and biochemically identified of microorganisms that are found on Pakistani currency notes and coins and to check either money is source of transmittance. Pakistani currency notes and coins of different denominations were collected from different professions of people in city of Lahore, Pakistan. The samples were analyzed for bacterial contaminants. A total of thirty one different types of bacteria including Gram positive and Gram negative were isolated from money. Most of microorganisms that found were human pathogens and may be a key source of disease cause. Therefore an effective health awareness campaign program should be fully executed to advise the public of the deathtraps of contaminated currency notes and even coins. We recommend that currency notes must be handled with carefulness and the handling currency is a serious problem of safety.

Keywords: Bacteria, Currency notes and Coins, Pathogens, Disease, Pakistan.