In addition to losing your bankroll, there are other potential hazards to playing poker.

For example, a few weeks ago an Arizona television station reported that poker chips manufactured by a Nevada company contained unhealthy and possibly lethal amounts of lead.

And, of course, there have been many reports about the unhealthy effects of second-hand smoke, which have led to numerous casinos and card rooms banning smoking.

Now, courtesy of another television station, comes word that playing poker can make you catch cold.

WCAU Channel 10, an NBC affiliate in Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania, USA, which covers the casino happenings in nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, in a newscast last week reported the following:

“If you like to play cards, the odds of avoiding a cold may not be in your favor, even if you’re holding a winning hand. Being a regular poker player can be one of the fastest ways of catching a cold.

“Researchers found germs are wild on a deck of playing cards or a stack of chips. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin placed men with severe colds alongside a group of healthy men, and had the group play poker for 12 hours.

“Twelve of 18 healthy men got colds just by breathing the air and touching the cards and poker game pieces. Researchers suggested washing your hands or using hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial wipes before you deal.”

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)