This study investigates the potential contamination of cash register employees in the Slovak Republic with 148 selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites. Of these, 42 substances were detected, and it was found that the target group-cashiers-regularly handle large volumes of banknotes, increasing their exposure to contaminants compared to the general population. This study revealed that commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medications significantly contribute to the contamination of cash registers. This study found that cashiers exhibited notably higher detection rates of antibiotics, including penicillin-V (2×), azithromycin (23×), and erythromycin (up to 64×), than the general population. Additionally, there was an alarming increase in illegal substances, with methamphetamine levels rising fivefold and cocaine up to fifteenfold. This study highlights a broader environmental concern, suggesting that routine handling of contaminated banknotes may lead to the transfer of micropollutants. Furthermore, personal hygiene practices, particularly handwashing, could play a role in introducing pharmaceuticals and narcotics into wastewater, potentially contributing several milligrams of contaminants daily.

Department of Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University in Bratislava Mlynská Dolina Ilkovičova 6 842 15 Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Environmental Engineering Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Radlinského 9 812 37 Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Inorganic Technology Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Radlinského 9 812 37 Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Ss Cyril and Methodius in Trnava Nám J Herdu 2 917 01 Trnava Slovakia

MicroPoll s r o Vazovova 5 812 43 Bratislava Slovakia

South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters University of South Bohemia in České Budejovice Zátiší 728 2 389 25 Vodňany Czech Republic

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