Do you wash your hands after you handle money?
Canada has some dirty casino money 鈥� and apparently, it isn't all because of money laundering.听
A new听听finds that Canuck banknotes carry the most harmful bacteria of any money in the world.听
Gambling.com gathered 20 of the most used currencies from around the world,听"partnering with microbiologists and conducting swab tests to find out what is hidden on听money,"听explains a news release. "With casinos receiving millions of visitors every single year from people across the world, the study took a look at the currency coming in to find out what's really lurking on our cash."
Microbiologists听gathered data based on the number of bacterial colonies found per note and听how the听bacteria can impact you. They found some strains of bacteria that can cause food poisoning, pneumonia and even ringworm.
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Canada has the world's dirtiest banknote
With 209 microbe colonies found, the study found that Canadian dollars used in casinos are听the "dirtiest听and most dangerous currency in the world," covered with the harmful bacillus 鈥� a microbe with strains that can cause food poisoning, sepsis, and in rare cases, anthrax.听
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker's yeast, was also found on the Canadian dollar. Report authors note that this听yeast is known "to cause illness in the immunosuppressed such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, as well as infections to the inner lining of the heart and abdomen."
Saccharomyces can听also cause illness听in healthy people, where infection can easily result in thrush.听
Microbiologists also听found Rhizopus strains听on the note, which commonly cause fungal infections.听
Report authors note that "microbes cover us and everything we touch, so it is no surprise that your hard-earned cash is covered in them." Many of these microbes are harmless, but some of them听can be deadly, especially to people with weakened immune systems.听
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The top 10 countries with the听dirtiest听banknotes
