COINS REPORTED TO CAUSE RASH

John writes:

COINS CAN CAUSE RASH
by John Regitko

Over a decade ago, it was reported by CBC Radio in Northern Ontario that coins were a danger to your health. Although we didn't hear of any deaths as a result of handling coins, it was reported that coins could cause a rash, sometimes rather severe, when people touched them during routine use.

Interestingly, the story originally surfaced in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada’s Nickel Capital and was first brought to my attention by Bill Waychison as published in the bulletin of the Timmins Coin Club.

The logic or illogical argument results from the fact that nickel powder produced when nickel ores undergo a hydrometallurgical process is toxic in powder form. It is this powdered nickel that was used to produce most of Canada’s coins. In solid form as in a pure nickel coin, nickel is obviously not toxic. At the time, most of our circulating coins were made of nickel plated steel.

The Royal Canadian Mint issued a clarification in a press release after news reports indicated that 5 people at the Sudbury Centre Mall developed a rash, purportedly after handling coinage sent directly from the Mint. The coins involved were not rolled in materials used by the Royal Canadian Mint, indicating that the coins were not received from the Mint’s distribution facilities.

The Mint's press release pointed out that coins struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and their packaging do not contain any substances, agents or products that could produce a skin rash or biological reaction of any sort.

The Sudbury Regional Police investigated the matter in order to determine the source of the substance. Health Canada was informed of the situation and was sent samples of the substance for analysis.

When I first read about the five Canadians people reacting to money at a mall, I couldn't believe it.

Imagine, 5 people actually having money in their pocket.

I thought that only banks were allowed to own and possess money.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
VOCABULARY TERM: CUPROLAMINOPHOBIA (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a28.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 25, 2017 : On the Fear of Coins (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n26a11.html)

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