Traces of cocaine and herpes on library books

What if reading wasn’t as harmless to your health as it seems? Indeed, two Belgian researchers have just presented the results of a bacteriological survey, to say the least, surprising. During the literary program “Man over boek”, the second channel of the VRT, these scientists revealed the presence of traces of cocaine on all of the 10 most borrowed books from the Antwerp library in Belgium.

Cocaine positive books but safe

Professors Johan Van Elderen and Jan Tytgat of the Catholic University of Louvain have therefore examined the 10 titles most loaned to the Antwerp library under their microscope. Thanks to a series of very sensitive tests, the books therefore revealed that they contained tiny amounts of cocaine. Insufficient amounts to make the next potential readers feel the slightest effect of this drug. However, these very small doses were significant enough to be, for example, absorbed by the body of readers and detected during a possible anti-doping control. “You certainly don’t have to worry. These low concentrations, which you would experience, have no effect. The test methods are now so sensitive that traces contained in contaminated books could be found in your hair, blood and urine, ”explained Jan Tytgat.

The herpes virus on “50 Shades of Gray”

But cocaine is not the only surprising substance that has been found by these researchers on these books which pass from hand to hand. Indeed on EL James’ bestseller “Fifty Shades of Gray”, Belgian scientists have also detected traces of the herpes virus. In addition, Pieter Aspe’s book “Tango” has also revealed to contain tiny amounts of this virus, which causes cold sores in particular. The study does not say whether it was the HSV1 virus responsible for cold sores or the HSV2 virus responsible for genital herpes. Be that as it may, this academic team concludes that at the doses found in books, the health of regular readers is not in danger.