Message-Id: <l03020901b34adafd3c37@[206.170.177.68]>
In-Reply-To: <v01510100b34a26ea5522@[156.1.188.13]>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 20:14:41 -0700
To: "Pinhole Listserv" <pinhole@exploratorium.edu>
From: kathy saito <ksaito@foothill.net>
Subject: coin test for anemia?
Hi Pinholers -
I am teaching a unit on Vitamins and Minerals and a student told me about a
"test" to tell if you are anemic: you rub a 14K gold or sterling silver
ring across your face and if it leaves a black/grey streak, you are anemic.
When we tested the class, most of the girls came out positive and very few
boys did. We also heard that it means you're vegetarian, but of the girls
that came out positive, only two were vegetarian. Someone proposed that
it's a reaction to makeup, but when we rubbed the coin on areas not covered
with make-up, we still got a positive result.
My questions are: Does this "test" really show you're anemic? If so, why?
What's the chemistry behind it? And, if the test doesn't show you're
anemic, what does it show and why?
Very curious out in Folsom (my students are too!) and looking forward to
some answers....
Kathy Saito
Folsom High School
ps. sent this question in to Scientific American's website and have yet to
hear an answer. I have more faith in you Pinholers in getting a response,
so please don't let me down! =)
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Understand that friends come and go, but for the
precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography
and lifestyle - because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young..." - from "Everybody's Free" by Baz Luhrman
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