Belagavi girls reveal currency notes affects health

Two young girls from Standard 8 of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2, Camp, Belagavi have done extensive research and found out that one can face more serious health issues due to the use of Currency notes.

Prarthana Kulkarni and Khushi Angolkar’s research ‘Currency notes-a contagion’ has found out that the currency notes one keeps in the wallets and pocket have very harmful bacteria attached to it.

Their research work was presented at the National Children’s Science Congress(NCSC) Regional Level Competition held in Bengaluru. Their project has now been selected for the national level competition. The research also emphasizes the need to adapt the cashless transactions format so that it becomes safer.  As the group leader Khushi Angolkar will be going to Kanpur where the National level competition will be held from December 3 to 5.

 The research was conducted for over three months on 12 currency notes of various denominations which were randomly collected from the market. 

Illness due to non-washing of hands is very common and in the market, it is a common scene that vendors counting currency notes by hands using their mouth saliva. Many are unaware that harmful bacteria’s settle on the notes after mouth saliva is applied to it while counting. Severe health issues could arise when these bacteria’s enter the human body.

The findings showed that notes were contaminated with Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus species which are infectious. They are carriers of a pathogen and potential mode of transmission of disease. The Lower denomination of currency note had more bacterial colonies as compared to higher denominations.

The best way to avoid infections from such bacteria would be the use of cashless transactions.