Study finds 90% of U.S. cash is contaminated with cocaine residue

You could be handling cocaine every day and not even know it.

A study by researchers out of the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth finds up to 90% of U.S. Currency is contaminated with cocaine.

They analyzed bank notes from five different countries and several cities within the United States.

The study found the U.S. and Canada had the highest contamination levels, and that bills from larger cities tended to have the most cocaine residue.

They say the amount of cocaine ranged in size from several thousand times smaller than a grain of sand, to up to 50 grains of sand per bill.

However, they say it was not high enough to cause any health or legal concerns so no “money laundering” is needed.

Researchers say using money during drug deals, or as a way to inhale cocaine, is likely behind the cash contamination.

It is spread when processed in currency counting machines at the bank.

Experts say these numbers are 20% higher than those found during a similar study two years ago.