INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Microbial Contamination in 20-Peso Banknotes in Monterrey, Mexico

The authors’ aim was to isolate and identify bacteria or yeast that may be present on the surface of 20-peso banknotes from the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. They randomly studied a total of 70 20-peso banknotes for the presence of bacteria and species ofCandidaby conventional methods. Out...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of environmental health Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 20 - 23
Main Authors Rocha-Gámez, Judith, Tejeda-Villarreal, Paula Nelly, Macías-Cárdenas, Patricia, Canizales-Oviedo, Jorge, Garza-González, Elvira, Ramírez-Villarreal, Elsa Guadalupe
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published National Environmental Health Association 01.09.2012
Subjects
ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE
Bacteria
Environmental health
Foodborne illnesses
Graduate studies
Metropolitan areas
Paper money
Pathogens
Polymers
State universities
Universities
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The authors’ aim was to isolate and identify bacteria or yeast that may be present on the surface of 20-peso banknotes from the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. They randomly studied a total of 70 20-peso banknotes for the presence of bacteria and species ofCandidaby conventional methods. Out of the 70 banknotes, 48 (69%) were found to be contaminated. The most prevalent species observed wasCandida kruseii(19 bills, 27%) followed byBurkholderia cepacia(9 bills, 13%); 22 (31%) bills showed no growth. Of the 48 contaminated bills, four (5.7%) yielded bacteria considered pathogenic and the other 44 bills (63%) yielded bacteria considered potentially pathogenic. Eleven bills showed more than one microbial species. The results of the authors’ study show that contamination occurs on paper currency in the metropolitan area of Monterrey. The authors’ findings provide evidence that currency banknotes may represent a threat to human health.
ISSN:0022-0892